In this study separation of acetone/water mixtures was investigated by pervaporation (PV) technique using poly(vinyl alcohol)-g-acrylonitrile/2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate-Fe3O4 (PVA-g-AN/HEMA-Fe3O4) nanocomposite membranes. AN and HEMA was grafted onto PVA by irradiating with UV light. The graft copolymer was characterized by elemental analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), proton-nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (H-1 NMR), carbon-nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (C-13 NMR) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Magnetite nanoparticles were in situ synthesized in copolymer membrane and the membrane was characterized by using FTIR, DSC, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-Ray diffraction (XRD) and contact angle measurements. Membrane performance was examined by changing the feed composition (0-100 wt.%) and operating temperature (30-50 degrees C). The highest separation factor of 120 was obtained with 80 wt.% acetone concentration in the feed. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.