This work presents a mass-balance-based model devoted to the characterization of intercrystalline defects active to permeation in film-like zeolite membranes using pervaporation data. Relevant structural information concerning such domains can be obtained from the slope and intercept of the line that describes the increase of the flux pervaporated through a membrane with the absolute pressure in the liquid feed. Capillary forces appear to govern mass transfer within intercrystalline pores. The suitability of the model is assessed by using a collection of zeolite NaA membranes prepared on our premises for the separation of ethanol/water mixtures. The results show that, although a membrane displays high selectivity, a reduced number of defects in the zeolite layers cannot be ruled out. The model offers the advantage of enabling the characterization of large defects in pervaporation membranes at experimental conditions similar to those in which they are likely to be used. (c) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.