Surface-modified alumina membrane (Al₂O₃) was used for ester flavor recovery by pervaporation. This study focused on the permeation characteristics of ester compounds (ethyl acetate, EA; ethyl propionate, EP; ethyl butyrate, EB) through tube-type hydrophobic membrane. Experiments were performed to evaluate the effects of the feed concentration (0.15-0.60 wt%) and temperature (30-50 ℃) on separation of EA, EP, and EB from aqueous solutions. It was found that the permeation flux increased with increasing feed ester concentration and operating temperature. The fluxes of EA, EP, and EB at 0.60 wt% feed concentration and 40 ℃ were 254, 343, and 377 g/m² hr, which was much higher than those of polymer membranes. It was reported that the permeate flux of EA with PDMS was 1.1-58 g/m²Þhr at feed concentration of 90-4,800 ppm and 45 ℃. The separation factors for the 0.15-0.60 wt% feed solution of EA, EP, and EB at 40 ℃ were in the range of 66.9-78.9, 106.5-97.3, and 120.5-122.8, respectively. Due to the high separation factor, phase separation occurred in permeate stream because the ester concentration in permeate was much above the saturation limit.