Hydrolysate of steam-exploded wheat straw (SEWS) was used as the carbon source of xanthan production. The effects of common inhibitors generated during steam explosion on xanthan production were evaluated; a combine method was used to improve the fermentability of enzymatic hydrolysate of SEWS. All the three groups of compounds (weak acid, furan derivatives and phenolic compounds) inhibited xanthan generation; furan derivatives and phenolic compounds could be reduced by using the combinations of low steam pressure and long maintain time; flocculation was effective to remove phenolic compounds; weak acid and furan derivatives could be removed when SEWS was air-dried. Using the detoxified hydrolysate of SEWS, the xanthan production attained 20.7 g L-1 and the yield was 0.62 g xanthan per g sugar (glucose and xylose). It was concluded that SEWS is a potential carbon source of xanthan fermentation.