An ultrafiltration membrane bioreactor was used for the production of DFA III from enzymatic conversion of inulin. Compared with the traditional batch reactor, the productivity and purity of DFA III could be markedly enhanced and product inhibition was removed and IFTase could be continuously used for six runs in the UF membrane bioreactor. When the substrate concentration was 100 g/L, the concentration of DFA III was about 78.4 g/L, while the productivity and purity of DFA III could attain about 2385 and 92%, respectively. (C) 2011, The Society for Biotechnology, Japan. All rights reserved.