A novel immobilization method ofS. cerevisiae in luffa matrix for ethanol production was investigated. In this method nopretreatment was required, and cell immobilization could be achieved by simply adding the cell suspension to the sponge discs. The immobilized cells were physiologically active for three more cycles of fermentation, with less than 5% reduction in ethanol production from mahula flowers. Also in comparison with the commercially available synthetic immobilization carriers, the use of luffa sponge will not lead to any additional technical problems during scale up process