Cellulosic ethanol production was carried out using empty fruit bunches (EFB) via simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF) method. The EFB was pretreated with alkaline treatment using 0.2 M of sodium hydroxide (NaOH) solution followed by mild acid hydrolysis using 3 of sulfuric acid (H2SO4), and enzymatic saccharification using derived cellulose, Trichoderma reesei prior to fermentation using Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Acid hydrolysis-pretreated samples shows the best substrates to be used in fermentation since it can produce the highest amount of glucose and highest percentage of saccharification with 5.3 mg/mL and 48 , respectively. The EFB hydrolyzate obtained was subjected to fermentation under anaerobic condition. It was found that the highest ethanol yield was 0.42 mg/mL from acid hydrolyze sample. Optimization of SSF was conducted on filter paper unit (FPU), pH and mass loading effect for bioethanol production. Highest ethanol productions from cellulose (Avicel PH-101) are 3.1, 3.7, and 4.6 mg/mL using FPU 217, pH 4, and a 5.0-g cellulose loading accordingly. © 2014, Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.