BACKGROUND: Pervaporation performance in a PDMS membrane bioreactor for ethanol recovery from model solution and fermentation broth was researched. Downstream of the membrane the permeate vapor was completely condensed by running water and air at room temperature. RESULTS: Part of the permeate vapor was condensed under vacuum conditions by running water at room temperature in condenser C1, with ethanol concentration of 47.2gL(-1) obtained. The vacuum pump in the pervaporation membrane bioreactor was used to compress and pump the non-condensed permeate vapor with ethanol concentration of 461.3gL(-1) into the condenser C2, where the vapor could be easily condensed under atmospheric conditions by air at room temperature. During the experimental ethanol recovery from model solution the total flux and separation factor were about 1100gm(-2)h(-1) and 8.0, respectively, while the permeate flux of the membrane was reduced during the separation of fermentation broth. CONCLUSION: Compared with a traditional pervaporation process, the cold trap condensation was eliminated in the process and enhanced ethanol fermentation was achieved since pervaporation was continuously coupled with fermentation. (C) 2016 Society of Chemical Industry