The supported zeolite membranes prepared in this work have been synthesised under microwave heating in order to reduce synthesis time, to prevent support dissolution, and to reproducibly obtain a thin defect-free zeolite layer. The MFI-type zeolite membranes were synthesised on ceramic capillaries, with a high membrane surface area-to-volume ratio (>1000 m(2) m(-3)), which is by far higher than that of classical tubular supports (<< 500 m(2) m(-3)). The selective layer was deposited inside, outside or on both sides of the capillaries. These hydrophobic membranes were characterized and tested in pervaporation for the separation of an EtOH/H(2)O: 5/95 wt.% mixture. The best results obtained at a pervaporation temperature of 45 degrees C, in terms of flux (1.5 kg/h m(2)) and selectivity (alpha(EtOH)/(H2O) = 54), were achieved with the double-sided membranes. (C) 2010 Elsevier By. All rights reserved.