Co-fermentation of hexose and pentose sugars in a spent sulfite liquor matrix with genetically modified Saccharomyces cerevisiae

► Xylose fermenting S. cerevisiae strain IBB10B05 for SSL fermentation. ► Fermentation of 70% (v/v) SSL without detoxification. ► Ethanol yields between 0.31 and 0.44 g/g total sugar. ► Correlation between xylose uptake rates and molar xylitol and glycerol yields.