In the present study, micellar-enhanced ultrafiltration (MEUF) was used to remove Zn2+ from synthetic wastewater by the spiral-wound ultrafiltration membrane. The effects of different operating conditions on the separation performance of membrane were investigated. It was found that the transmembrane pressure has the largest influence on the permeate flux, but it has negligible effect on the rejection coefficient. Furthermore. sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) feed concentrations, SDS-Brij35 mixed micelles concentration and solution pH have a major influence on the rejection coefficient and negative effect on the permeate flux due to concentration polarization layer formation. Also, the results showed that the permeate flux and removal efficiency of zinc by anionic surfactant (SDS)-MEUF depends on the ligand-to-Zn2+ ratio extremely. In general, MEUF by spiral-wound ultrafiltration membrane has good rejection of Zn2+ under different operating conditions, as the rejections were higher than 98.0%. However, application of single anionic surfactant at relatively low concentration is more efficient than mixed surfactants and MEUF was not practical when the wastewater is intensively acidic. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.