Investigation of organic foulants behavior on hollow-fiber UF membranes in a drinking water treatment plant

► The organic foulants in the PVC LPM filtration were investigated in a whole year. ► Protein and SMP-like substances were the dominant components in the fouling layer. ► Humic substances play an unimportant role in the formation of the fouling layer. ► The increase of SMP-like substances can lead to an accumulated irreversible fouling. ► Evolutions of the surface morphology were characterized by SEM and AFM.