Biological treatment of eucalypt spent sulphite liquors: A way to boost the production of second generation bioethanol

► Hardwood spent sulphite liquor as resource for 2nd generation bioethanol production. ► Inhibitors like acetic acid, gallic acid and pyrogallol were removed from HSSL. ► Reactors operation was compared using single (B) or sequential batch reactors (SBR). ► SBR bio-detoxification was the best result for removal of microbial inhibitors. ► Bio-detoxified HSSL provided a successful bioethanol fermentation by Pichia stipitis.