BACKGROUNDThis　research　focused　on　the　fouling　behavior　of　0.1　mu　m　PVDF　membrane　caused　by　activated　sludge　suspension　in　dead-end　filtration　mode　and　the　chemical　cleaning　of　the　fouled　PVDF　membrane　by　alkaline　solutions.　A　combined　intermediate　pore　blockage　and　cake　filtration　model　was　established　to　describe　flux　decline　behavior.　A　series　of　experiments　were　performed　to　validate　the　proposed　model　and　to　explore　the　impacts　of　operating　conditions　on　flux　decline　and　recovery.　RESULTSFlux　decline　was　much　faster　with　increasing　transmembrane　pressure　(TMP)　and　concentration　of　mixed　liquor　suspended　solids　(MLSS).　The　proposed　model　predictions　in　this　paper　showed　good　agreement　with　the　experimental　data.　The　cleaning　effect　of　sodium　hypochlorite　solution　was　superior　to　that　of　sodium　hydroxide　solution.　Temperature　was　the　dominant　factor　affecting　flux　recovery　in　the　cleaning　operation　and　the　optimum　chemical　cleaning　operating　conditions　were　as　follows:　C-NaOCl=　1%,　r　=　300　rpm,　t　=　30　min,　T　=　318　K.　CONCLUSIONSThe　combined　model　was　valid　in　predicting　the　flux　decline　process　and　more　accurate　than　classical　fouling　models　under　the　same　operating　conditions.　Flux　recovery　was　significantly　improved　under　optimized　cleaning　conditions.　(c)　2015　Society　of　Chemical　Industry