The effect of furfural on aerobic and anaerobic batch cultures of Saccharomyces cerevisiae CBS 8066 growing on glucose was investigated. Furfural was found to decrease both the specific growth rate and ethanol production rate after pulse additions in both anaerobic and aerobic batch cultures. The specific growth rate remained low until the furfural had been completely consumed, and then increased somewhat, but not to the initial value. The CO(2) evolution rate decreased to about 35% of the value before the addition of 4 g x l(-1) furfural, in both aerobic and anaerobic fermentations. The decrease of the CO(2) evolution rate was rapid at first, and then a more gradual decrease was observed. The furfural was converted mainly to furfuryl alcohol, with a specific conversion rate of 0.6 (+/-0.03) g (furfural) x g(-1) (biomass) x h(-1) by exponentially growing cells. However, the conversion rate of furfural by cells in the stationary phase was much lower. A previously unidentified compound was detected during the conversion of furfural. This compound was characterized by mass spectrometry and it is suggested that it is formed from furfural and pyruvate.