A mathematical model was developed for the bubbling enhanced microfiltration process, in which a novel submerged hollow fiber membrane module was employed to filtrate yeast suspension. By introducing a parameter, called gas bubbling cleaning efficiency, E, this model can be used to predict the time-dependent filtration performance under different bubbling conditions. As a result, model predicted suction pressure at the outlet of the module agrees with that obtained from experiments. At the same time, the values of E under different bubbling conditions were estimated, and factors affecting E were discussed. Also, the developed model was used to analyze the cleaning efficiency on module performance. The obtained results provide new insights into the bubbling enhanced microfiltration process, and help to optimize this system. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.