Based　on　swelling　and　dissolution　mechanism,　a　model　describing　first-order　parallel　reversible　process　was　developed　to　predict　the　fouling　resistance　of　0.1　mu　m　polyacrylonitrile　(PAN)　membrane　fouled　with　sodium　alginate　(SA)　during　water　rinsing.　The　results　showed　that　there　were　good　agreements　between　model　predictions　and　experimental　values　(R-2　＞　0.9).　Especially　in　the　situation　when　the　impact　of　water　rinsing　condition　on　model　parameter　was　considered.　Moreover,　the　applicability　of　the　proposed　model　was　validated　by　a　series　of　rinsing　experiments　with　0.1　mu　m　polyvinylidene　fluoride　(PVDF)　membrane　or　active　sludge　suspension.　In　addition,　feed　concentration　had　a　great　role　in　the　fouling　process　while　temperature　impact　on　the　cleaning　process　was　also　very　appreciable.　And　the　reversibility　of　SA　fouling　was　well　explained　by　the　electrostatic　and　hydrophilic　repulsions　between　PAN　membrane　and　SA.　(C)　2017　Institution　of　Chemical　Engineers.　Published　by　Elsevier　B.V.　All　rights　reserved.