In this study, efficient polymer-grade L-lactic acid production was achieved with the strain Bacillus sp. P38 by using cellulosic hydrolysate as the sole carbon source. In fed-batch fermentation, 180 g L-1 L-lactic acid was obtained with a volumetric productivity of 2.4 g L-1 h(-1) and a yield of 0.96 g g(-1) total reducing sugars. No D-isomer of lactic acid was detected in the broth. Strain P38 tolerated up to 10 g L-1 2-furfural, and lactate production was sharply inhibited only when the 2-furfural concentration was higher than 6 g L-1. Moreover, strain P38 also tolerated high concentrations (>6 g L-1) of other fermentation inhibitors in cellulosic hydrolysate, such as vanillin and acetic acid, although it was slightly sensitive to formic acid. The efficient L-lactic acid production, combined with high inhibitor tolerance and efficient pentose utilization, indicate that Bacillus sp. P38 is a promising producer of polymer-grade L-lactic acid from cellulosic biomass. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.