The thermotolerant, ethanol-producing yeast strain Kluyveromyces marxianus IMB3 was grown at 45 degrees C on media containing 2, 4 and 6% (w/v) pulverized barley straw and supplemented with 2% (v/v) cellulase. Maximum ethanol concentrations produced were 2, 3 and 3.6g/l, respectively. When the pulverized straw was replaced by NaOH pretreated straw (at 2, 4 and 6% (w/v); based on original untreated straw), ethanol concentrations increased to maxima of 3.9, 8, and 12g/l, respectively. The ethanol yields amount to 20g ethanol from 100g of straw.