近年来，膜技术在水处理领域得到了广泛的研究。除了去除颗粒物外，一些膜工艺还能够去除大量的天然有机物（NOM）。然而，这些膜也比那些有较大孔隙的膜更容易被NOM污染。本研究调查并描述了一种将氧化铁吸附和超滤（UF）相结合的综合工艺，以实现良好的NOM去除和最小的污染。研究人员得出结论，膜污染主要是由于表面吸附了NOM，然后形成了一种跨越孔隙的凝胶；超滤膜可能被NOM污染，即使膜上保留的NOM量可以忽略不计；而NOM分子的污染势与其大小没有密切关系。

In recent years, membrane technology has been extensively investigated for water treatment. In addition to removing particulates, some membrane processes are able to remove a significant amount of natural organic matter (NOM). However, these membranes are also more easily fouled by NOM than those membranes that have larger pores. This research investigates and describes an integrated process which combines iron oxide adsorption and ultrafiltration (UF) as a way to accomplish good NOM removal with minimal fouling. The researchers concluded that membrane fouling occurs primarily by adsorption of NOM on the surface, followed by formation of a gel that bridges across the pores; ultrafiltration membranes can be fouled by NOM even if a negligible amount of NOM is retained by the membrane; and the fouling potential of NOM molecules is not closely related to their size.