The gradual reduction of fossil resources has caused increasing concern about their supply and the emission of greenhouse gases and global warming, and in this context, biofuels can play an important role in solving these problems. Meanwhile, ethanol produced from corn starch, sugarcane molasses, lignocellulosic materials and biodiesel produced from rapeseed oil are the most important commercial uses in recent years. Ethanol production is a complex biochemical process in which yeasts, fungi, and certain bacteria are able to convert fermentable sugars into ethanol, carbon dioxide, and other metabolic byproducts. These byproducts contribute to the chemical composition and sensory properties of fermented foods. Ethanol production is important in a wide range of secondary products (such as health, medical and industrial). Controlling the fermentation process is usually a prerequisite for determining the quality of the final product. In this regard, monitoring the fermentation process is a basic need to ensure effective control of variable factors at all stages of the ethanol production process. Reducing the rate of fermentation in the process of ethanol production due to inhibitory compounds is considered a fundamental and significant problem in the economics of the process. In this review paper, the main aspects of ethanol fermentation and inhibitory compounds and their reduction methods in the ethanol production process from lignocellulosic materials have been discussed.
