A newly isolated thermotolerant ethanologenic yeast strain, Issatchenkia orientalis IPE 100, was able to produce ethanol with a theoretical yield of 85% per g of glucose at 42 degrees C. Ethanol production was inhibited by furfural, hydroxymethylfurfural and vanillin concentrations above 5.56 g L(-1), 7.81 g L(-1), and 3.17 g L(-1), respectively, but the strain was able to produce ethanol from enzymatically hydrolyzed steam-exploded cornstalk with 93.8% of theoretical yield and 0.91 g L(-1) h(-1) of productivity at 42 degrees C. Therefore, I. orientalis IPE 100 is a potential candidate for commercial lignocelluloses-to-ethanol production. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.