Pervaporation (PV) is a membrane technology that utilizes a non-porous membrane for the separation of liquid mixtures. PV using dense membranes has emerged as a promising new method for water removal from aqueous solutions. The mathematical model commonly used to predict the performance of PV is the resistance-in-series model. In the present study, a comprehensive mathematical model was developed to study the performance of PV. The model is based on solving the conservation equations for water in the membrane module. The conservation equations including continuity and momentum equations were derived and solved numerically using finite element method (FEM). Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) technique was applied to solve the model equations. The model was then validated using the experimental data obtained from PV experiments with poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) membrane. The simulation results were in good agreement with the experimental data for different values of feed flow rates and temperatures. The modeling findings also indicated that permeate flux increases with increasing feed flow rate and temperature in the membrane module. The simulation results revealed that the developed model can provide a general simulation of transport in PV. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.