This is the study which reported the use of, Water hyacinth (Eichornia crassipes) for xylitol production. In this study a simple reliable and efficient hydrolysis by dilute acid hydrolysis using 2% (v/v) H2SO4 was carried out at 1210C for 60 min. The acid pretreatment was concentrated under vacuum using rotavapor and further detoxified using overliming and subsequent activated charcoal treatment. The sugars achieved after concentration and detoxification (50±0.3g/l) was subjected to xylitol fermentation using Candida tropicalis Y-27405. A maximum xylitol concentration of 32.5g/l was obtained after 48 hr of fermentation, with a yield of 0.65gxylitol/g xylose and productivity of 0.67g/l/h.