Effects of feed concentration and transmembrane pressure on membrane fouling in Cd2Â + removal by micellar-enhanced ultrafiltration

► In MEUF, initial feed solutions play a similar role as backwashing. ► Initial feed concentrations near to but lower than CMC led to more serious fouling. ► Membrane fouling got more serious when SDS concentration reached 5 CMC. ► TMP was not always a good criterion of membrane fouling at the beginning. ► Larger driving force caused by high TMP would result in lower Rf in some degree.