SYNOPSISMembranes obtained from polymers, quaternized poly [ 3-(N',N'-dimethyl) aminopropylacrylamide-co-acrylonitrile] s, showed selective separation of water from aqueous ethanol solution by pervaporation. The separation factor toward water reached over 15,000. Membrane performance showed a good correlation to membrane polarity. Differential scanning calorimetric melting endotherms of the water-swollen membranes were studied to clarify the state of water in the membranes. The results suggested that there are two states of water in the membrane: bound and free. The higher the fraction of bound water in the membrane, clearly, the more preferentially was water permeated.