Recovering　alcohols　from　dilute　fermentation　broth　is　an　emergent　task　in　bio-fuel　production　process.　Since　they　are　primary　planned　for　fuels,　energy　required　to　separate　these　alcohols　should　be　considered　in　evaluating　the　potential　of　a　separation　technology.　A　membrane-based　process,　pervaporation,　is　of　special　interest　because　of　its　environmental　friendliness　and　easy　integrating　character.　This　review　probes　into　the　fundamentals　of　pervaporation　especially　in　terms　of　the　heat　required　for　evaporation.　Meanwhile,　the　separation　data　of　the　most　representative　alcohol-selective　pervaporation　membranes　reported　in　the　literatures　arc　collected　and　compared　with　the　vapor-liquid　equilibrium　curve,　which　represents　the　distillation　selectivity.　They　include　inorganic　membranes,　silicon　rubber　based　membranes,　Mixed　Matrix　Membranes　and　some　other　special　materials.　By　doing　so,　the　status　of　alcohol　recovery　via　pervaporation　would　be　more　clear　for　researchers.　For　ethanol　recovery,　it　is　selectivity　rather　than　flux　that　is　in　urgent　need　of　solution.　While　for　butanol　recovery,　membranes　with　satisfactory　selectivity　have　been　developed,　increasing　the　separation　capacity　would　be　more　pressing.　(C)　2018　The　Chemical　Industry　and　Engineering　Society　of　China,　and　Chemical　Industry　Press　Co.,　Ltd.　All　rights　reserved.