An electrodialytic process was proposed to achieve an efficient desalination of glutamine (Gln) fermentation broth. Several electrodialytic experiments using different combinations of anion- and cation-exchange membranes were carried out, and a set of satisfactory combination of membranes was selected for the desalination. The effects of operational current density and pH on desalination and glutamine recovery were investigated and discussed. The electrical current efficiency and the energy consumption were also studied. The loss of glutamine could be reduced effectively when the current density was kept at 204 A/m(2) and pH was controlled near the isoelectric point of glutamine (pI: 5.65) during the process. The clear solution after this electrodialytic desalination can meet the further simple separation of glutamine from the solution using anion-exchange resin. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.