Abstract: Lignocellulose resources can be used to produce ethanol, but its structure and chemical composition hamper the accessibility of cellulose enzyme, so it is necessary to pretreat the raw materials effectively. Among many pretreatments, steam explosion, because of its low-cost, less energy consumption and pollution-free has favored researchers. Through the research on procession, mechanisms and influencing factors, and the application of bioconversion, proving powerful the wonderful future it has, it will be one of key technologies in the fuel-ethanol industry, which takes lignocellose as its resource.