This work develops an innovative biotrickling filter-microbial fuel cell (BF-MFC) for use in electricity production and removing ethyl acetate (EA) that is emitted from a gaseous stream. A new membrane design, providing effective delivery of protons released from microorganisms that biodegrade EA from the anode to the cathode, was developed using a polyvinyl alcohol-membrane electrode assembly. As the EA concentration was increased from 0.18 g/m(3) to 1.44 g/m(3), the voltage increased from 49.4 mV to 658 mV, and When EA organic loading rate ranged from 14.41 to 29.58 g/m(3)/h, the elimination capacity (EC) reached almost the 100% conversion line. A maximum power density of 49.1 mW/m(2) and an EA elimination capacity of 83.8 g/m(3) h were obtained. Microbial community analysis revealed that two distinct groups of exoelectrogenic microbes and EA-degraders were dominated in the conductive coke surface and in the inner tube wall of the BF-MFC, respectively. (C) 2016 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.