Model organic matters (MOMs) are widely used in membrane fouling research for water and wastewater treatment. In this study, we aimed to define the characteristics of ideal MOMs and propose principles for selecting appropriate ones for research. The MOMs were classified into three categories based on their composition. Among these, bovine serum albumin, sodium alginate, and humic acid are the most commonly used. However, some of them lack representativeness of the main organics or main foulants in water and wastewater, whereas others lack the similarity of fouling behavior with water and wastewater. The characteristics of ideal MOMs are summarized as follows: 1. they actually exist in water or wastewater and contribute substantially to membrane fouling; 2. they demonstrate fouling behavior similar to that of water and wastewater; 3. they are easy to access and produce. To select appropriate MOMs, two principles were proposed: A. the main foulants in water and wastewater, such as standard extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) and standard effluent organic matters (EfOM) and B. the organic matter that has similar fouling behaviors to water and wastewater, such as xanthan gum and guar gum.
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