This paper describes the removal of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) such as chloroform, benzene and toluene from aqueous solutions of dilute VOCs using the poly(styrene)-b-poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PSt-bPDMS) membranes containing an ionic liquid, 1-allyl-3-butylimidazilium bis (trifluoromethane sulfonyl) imide ([ABIM]TFSI) ([ABIM]TFSI/PSt-b-PDMS) by pervaporation. When aqueous solutions of 0.05 wt% VOCs were permeated through [ABIM]TFSI/PSt-b-PDMS membranes, they showed strong VOC/water selectivity. Both the permeability and the VOC permselectivity of [ABIM]TFSI/PSt-b-PDMS membranes were enhanced by increasing the [ABIM]TFSI content, because the affinity of [ABIM]TFSI/PSt-b-PDMS membranes for VOCs was increased by introducing [ABIM]TFSI into the membranes. The [ABIM]TFSI is localized in the PSt-b-PDMS membrane plays an important role as an absorbent to selectively partition VOCs from the aqueous solution. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.