AbstractBACKGROUNDThe use of byproducts such as rejected plantain with final disposition problems and conversion processes with ‘green’ technologies are important research topics. Bioethanol production from crops with a high content of fermentable sugars is an alternative to that from traditional crops (corn and sugar cane). The aim of this work was to study the use of whole (peel and pulp) unripe plantain (WP) for bioethanol production.RESULTSLab‐scale liquefaction and saccharification of both materials released mainly three carbohydrates, glucose (9.02 mg g−1), maltose (0.45 mg g−1) and xylose (0.25 mg g−1). The WP saccharification required the use of pectinase and cellulase because of the high amounts of pectin and cellulose associated with the peel. Fermentation for 11 h produced similar ethanol concentration for both samples, but at the end of fermentation (32 h), the ethanol production was higher in the WP (58.6 mL L−1) compared with the plantain pulp (PP) (45.5 mL L−1). The theoretical ethanol yield was lower with WP (67%) than with PP (90%).CONCLUSIONWP can be an alternative raw material for bioethanol production. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry