With Zn(II)-selective inhibition on the whole-cell catalysis of Gluconobacter oxydans NL71, gluconic acid and xylonic acid were coproduced efficiently from the hydrolysate of corn stover. Further metabolism of gluconic acid to the by-product 2-ketogluconic acid was prevented by addition of 10 g/L ZnCl2. Remarkably, yields of 93.91% of gluconic acid and 93.36% of xylonic acid were obtained with the supplement of ZnCl2 in the synthetic medium, without by-product production. After optimization of the concentrations of ZnCl2 and inocula of the strain, maximum amounts of gluconic acid and xylonic acid were coproduced at titers of 63.01 g/L and 33.81 g/L, with an overall utilization of 100% of the sugars in the enzymatic hydrolysate of corn stover. The results showed execution of our objective to prove this novel bioconversion method for simultaneously producing gluconic acid and xylonic acid, which would benefit subsequent studies on the comprehensive utilization of lignocellulosic materials. (C) 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.