BACKGROUNDThe effect of process parameters of a hybrid process integrating adsorption and ultrafiltration in a single system was investigated for bisphenol A (BPA) removal from water. The styrene-divinylbenzene-based, macroporous Purolite MN 202 and Dowex Optipore L493 polymeric adsorbents were employed for adsorption of BPA from water while a ZW-1 model submerged ultrafiltration module was applied in the hybrid system to separate the fine adsorbent particles from treated water. RESULTSAccording to the results obtained using Dowex Optipore L493, the optimum operating conditions to reach minimum BPA concentration in the treated water were found to be: adsorbent concentration 0.5 g-adsorbent L-1-solution, replacement rate of saturated and fresh adsorbents 9 mL min(-1), permeate flow rate 3 mL min(-1), and polymeric adsorbent particle size range 50-100 mu m. CONCLUSIONThe adsorption-ultrafiltration hybrid system is considered as a promising treatment process for removal of BPA from water using highly crosslinked polymeric adsorbents Purolite MN 202 and Dowex Optipore L493. (c) 2014 Society of Chemical Industry.