Pilot-scale ethanol production from rice straw hydrolysates using xylose-fermenting Pichia stipitis

► We performed the study for the pilot-scale fermentation of rice straw hydrolysate by Pichia stipitis. ► We proposed the strategies to enhance the ethanol yield from fermentation of rice straw hydrolysates without overliming. ► We submitted the first report to show the potential for the industrialization of xylose fermentation for ethanol production.