Insight into the combined colloidal-humic acid fouling on the hybrid coagulation microfiltration membrane process: The importance of aluminum

- Fouling behavior of HA and kaolin is studied in coagulation-microfiltration process.
- Coexistence of HA and kaolin displayed an apparent synergic fouling effect.
- Different mechanisms governed the fouling process with increase in aluminum dosage.
- Properties of flocs rather than cake layer mass decided the membrane performance.