The performance of powdered activated carbon (PAC) in a hollow-fiber ultrafiltration (UF) system was successfully predicted and measured with respect to the removal of total organic carbon and a representative synthetic organic chemical, 2,4,6-trichlorophenol, from natural water. Because the adsorption kinetics for smaller PAC particles are much faster than for larger particles, the use of smaller particle sizes allowed the use of shorter PAC contact times. Model predictions for the removal of organic compounds can be used in the design of PAC-UF systems. Includes 34 references, tables, figures.