Unsupported gamma-Al2O3 membranes prepared by the sol-gel method were characterized to determine the effect of the addition of binders including polyethylene glycol (PEG) and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA). The sol-gel method involved the peptization of a boehmite (AlOOH) sol prepared from aluminum sec-butoxide. The effect of the binder on surface area, pore size, and pore volume was studied, as well as the amount of crack formation during drying of the membranes. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.