The enzymatic hydrolysis of sugar cane bagasse (SCB) releases simple fermentable sugars however, phenolic compounds (PCs) are also released from the lignin present in the structure of the lignocellulosic biomass limiting the production of sugars and therefore the fermentative process to convert these sugars to bioethanol. During the saccharification of SCB with holocellulases from Cellulomonas flavigena PR-22, 46 mu g mL(-1) of PCs were produced, which inhibited 87 and 74% carboxymethyl cellulase (CMCase) and xylanases respectively resulting in a low concentration of reducing sugars (5.5 g L-1) at the end of the process. Polymers such as polyethylene glycol 4000 (PEG) and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) can prevent this inhibition due to their ability to chemically adsorb PCs. PEG and PVP were added to C flavigena PR-22 enzyme extracts at 0.4% (w/v). PEG 4000 prevented CMCase inhibition, maintaining the original activity after the saccharification process, whereas xylanase production was increased by 47% when PVP was added. (C) 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.