Corncob containing similar to 70% mass fraction of holocellulose has been used as a low-cost feedstock for ethanol production. Among various inorganic and organic acids tested, the acid hydrolysis of corncob using HCl (1.5% mass divided by volume) at 120 degrees C for 30 min resulted in optimal recovery of 360.0 g kg(-1) sugars along with fermentation inhibitors like phenolics and furans. In order to make the acid hydrolysate fermentable, various detoxification strategies were applied, of these activated charcoal method was found comparatively more effective in removing 95% mass fraction of phenolics and 80% mass fraction of furans. The acid hydrolysed biomass was treated with sodium chlorite (4.0%) to remove similar to 80% mass fraction of lignin. The delignified substrate containing mostly cellulose was enzymatically hydrolysed to similar to 78% saccharification. The acid and enzymatic hydrolysates containing 38.43 g L-1 and 36.47 g L-1 sugars, when fermented with Pichia stipitis NCIM 3499 and Saccharomyces cerevisiae HAD produced 11.84 and 16.08 g L-1 of ethanol with corresponding yield of 0.31 g g(-1) and 0.43 g g(-1), respectively. Moreover, the mass balance of the complete process showed 62% mass fraction of ethanol conversion from the carbohydrate fraction of corncob. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.