Hybrid kinetics for the ethanol production by continuous fermentation of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and the separation by pervaporation were investigated in a silicone rubber membrane bioreactor with effective fermentor volume of 4 L and membrane area of 0.08 m2. Mathematic models of cell growth, ethanol formation and substrate consumption in a hybrid process were proposed and the kinetics parameters of the model were obtained by nonlinear regression based on the experimental data. The calculations by the model are in good agreement with the experimental data. The model can be used to predict the performance parameters of the membrane bioreactor operated in steady state conditions and, therefore, provide valuable guidance for the design and operation of such membrane bioreactors.
