Novel hybrid organic-inorganic membranes were prepared via sol-gel reactions of quaternized poly(vinyl alcohol) (q-PVA) and c-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTEOS) for pervaporation dehydration of an 85 wt % ethanol solution. The physicochemical structure of the hybrid membranes was characterized by FTIR, XRD, SEM, TG, and TEM. Nanofractal objects originated from self-assembly of ammonium groups on the q-PVA chains and amino groups in APTEOS can be observed on the surface of the hybrid membranes. When APTEOS/ PVA ratio is 5% (wt/wt), the hybrid membrane has specific nervate networks on its surface and exhibits the highest separation factor. The hybrid membranes have better pervaporation performance than pristine q-PVA membrane, and their permeation flux was found to increase linearly with increasing APTEOS content.

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