AbstractThe optimum operating conditions for growth and ethanol production of Zymomonas anaerobia ATCC 29501 were established. The optimum pH range and temperature were found to be 5.0–6.0 and 35°C, respectively. Based on the results obtained from the temperature optimization study, an Arrhenius‐type temperature relationship for the specific growth rate was developed. The growth and ethanol production of this microbe also have been optimized in terms of concentrations of glucose, essential nutrients, and minerals. With optimum medium and operating conditions, an ethanol concentration of 96 g/L was obtained in 23 h. Both growth and ethanol yield coefficients in dependence on initial glucose concentrations were determined.