Corn stover hydrolysate (CSH) and cane molasses were studied for butanol fermentation by Clostridium saccharobutylicum DSM 13864 in continuous fermentation. Using cane molasses as substrate, solvent of 13.75 g/L (butanol 8.65 g/L) and productivity of 0.439 g/L/h were achieved in a four-stage continuous fermentation at a gradient dilution mode of 0.15-0.15-0.125-0.1 h(-1). In continuous fermentation using CSH as substrate, total solvent titer of 11.43 g/L (butanol 7.81 g/L) and productivity of 0.429 g/L/h were reached at a dilution rate of 0.15 h(-1), and the steady process was continuously operated for 220 h without compromise in solvent titer. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.