A process for separating ethanol from a mixture including ethanol and water comprises contacting the mixture with a sorbent or membrane including one or more zeolites having a high adsorption selectivity toward ethanol over water, wherein at least a fraction of the ethanol from the mixture is adsorbed by the sorbent or membrane and an unadsorbed portion of the mixture forms a raffinate having a lower concentration of ethanol than the mixture. The process further includes releasing adsorbed ethanol from the sorbent or membrane as a retentate or a permeant to produce an ethanol extract having a higher concentration of ethanol than the mixture.