A hollow fiber ultrafiltration (UF) membrane reactor was set up to investigate the enzymatic hydrolysis of steam-exploded corn stalk. It was found that the hydrolysis rate, as well as the reducing sugar (RS) yield, could be markedly enhanced in the UF membrane reactor due to the continuous removal of inhibitory products. Compared with traditional batch hydrolysis, the hydrolysis rate and RS yield could increase 200% and 206%, respectively. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.