TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Process: In the process, where, during or after separation of the ionic liquid phase from the aqueous phase, production of the ethanol product in the fermentation broth continues. The process is conducted in the fermentor or in a vessel external to the fermentor. In the process, after separation of the aqueous phase from the ionic liquid phase, the aqueous phase or its portion is returned to the fermentor. The ionic liquid is recycled to the fermentation broth, after ethanol recovery. The process further comprises mixing the recovered ethanol with a motor fuel. Preferred Components: The ionic liquid comprises a cation comprising 1-hexyl-3-methylimidazolium, tetradecyl(tri-n-hexyl)phosphonium, 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium, 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium, 3-methyl-1-propylpyridinium or 1-butyl-1-methylpyrrolidinium. The ionic liquid is 1-hexyl-3-methylimidazolium tris(pentafluoroethyl)trifluorophosphate, tetradecyl(tri-n-hexyl)phosphonium 1,1,2-trifluoro-2-(perfluoroethoxy)ethanesulfonate, 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide, 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide, 3-methyl-1-propylpyridinium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide (all preferred), 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate, 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium 1,1,2-trifluoro-2-(perfluoroethoxy)ethanesulfonate, 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(pentafluoroethylsulfonyl)imide, 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate, 1-hexyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl) imide, 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium 1,1,2-trifluoro-2-(trifluoromethoxy)ethanesulfonate, 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium 1,1,2,3,3,3-hexafluoropropanesulfonate, 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium 2-(1,2,2,2-tetrafluoroethoxy)-1,1,2,2-tetrafluoroethanesulfonate, 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium 1,1,2,3,3,3-hexafluoropropanesulfonate or 1-butyl-3-methylpyrrolidinium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide. EXAMPLE - Stock cultures of Lactobacillus fermentum was grown by taking cells off an agar plate or from a frozen vial and placing them in separate 15 ml sterile polypropylene test tubes containing 3 ml of MRS media. This media was made per bottle instructions using sterilized water, and was then again filter sterilized before use. The test tubes were incubated at 30 degrees C at 175 rpm in an Inova (RTM: Incubator). After 24 hours, the test tubes were removed and stored at 4 degrees C. A portion (50 mu l) of each stock culture prepared was inoculated into separate 15 ml sterile polypropylene culture tubes containing fresh MRS medium (3 ml). These tubes were incubated for 4 hours at 30 degrees C at 175 rpm. After 4 hours, one of these culture tubes was inoculated with 150 mu l (5 vol/vol.%) of ionic liquid (comprised 1-hexyl-3-methylimidazolium tetradecyl(tri-n-hexyl)phosphonium) as ionic liquid cation and tris(pentafluoroethyl)trifluorophosphate as ionic liquid anion). All culture tubes were then incubated again under the same conditions for another 16 hours. After 16 hours, the culture tubes were stored at -80 degrees C. Analytical samples were taken from each culture tube by thawing the samples and spinning them at 28000 rpm and 20 degrees C for ten minutes in a Sorvall instruments RC3C centrifuge. One ml of supernatant was removed from each tube and was subjected to HPLC analysis.