Development of a species specific fouling index using principal component analysis of fluorescence excitation-emission matrices for the ultrafiltration of natural water and drinking water production

► Normalized permeate flux was correlated to the accumulation of humic, protein and colloidal/particulate. ► A fouling index, Principal component-based Individual Fouling (PIF) Index was proposed. ► The PIF index is promising for monitoring fouling in UF membrane drinking water operations.