The aim of this study was to investigate the deposition of particles in three types of synthetic fabric filter by scanning electron microscope (SEM) and to determine the experimental adhesive force of filter cakes in fabric filters. The fabrics used were acrylic, polypropylene and polyester. The particulate matter was phosphate rock. The particles were deposited in the filters during 10 filtration cycles, with a superficial filtration velocity of 0.10 m/s and maximum pressure drop of 980 Pa across the filter. The cleaning technique used was reverse air flow at 0.12 m/s. The results showed that the deposition depth of particles in the polypropylene filter was lower than those observed in the polyester and acrylic filters. Nevertheless, the residual pressure drop of the polypropylene at the beginning of the filtration assays was highest, owing to the greater accumulation of particles at the surface of the filter and the characteristics of the filter itself. It was also observed that the adhesion force was higher in the polypropylene filter than in the other filters, making it hard to remove the filter cake from that filter. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.