In this work, the Plantwide Control (PWC) problem of a continuous bioethanol process is investigated from a Plantwide Optimizing Control (PWOC) perspective. PWOC addresses the plantwide control problem integrating real-time optimization and control for optimal operation. Two different PWOC approaches have been considered: a single-layer direct optimizing control approach (one-layer) and a multi-layer without coordination approach (two-layer). The performance of these two PWOC schemes is compared with more conventional decentralized architectures, demonstrating the benefits of using plantwide optimization-based control strategies in the bioethanol process, towards reaching maximum profitability. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.