Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain NAN-127 (2n, prototroph), which contains the xylose reductase-xylitol dehydrogenase (XR-XDH) xylose metabolic pathway was used for the cofermentation of glucose and xylose. Oxygen supply was the most important factor for xylose fermentation and pH 4.5 and a ventilation rate of (1.04 vvm were optimal The xylose utilization ratio reached 0 655 at an initial xylose concentration of 50 g L(-1) and was 09 at an initial concentration of 20 g L(-1) Addition of furfural at late logarithmic phase as electron acceptor to a final concentration of 3.0 g L(-1) decreased the xylitol yield by 17% under micro-aeration conditions without inhibiting cell growth, but also without an increase in ethanol yield The results are important to the application of strain NAN-127 in the lignocellulosic ethanol process (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd All rights reserved.