Trace-organic contaminants elimination effectiveness and their removal pathways in a powder-activated carbon-membrane bioreactor (PAC-MBR) used for micro-polluted surface water treatment were investigated in this study. The results showed that PAC-MBR was capable of consolidating DOM elimination, enhancing trace-organic contaminants (2,4,6-trichlorophenol, nitrobenzene and trichloroethylene) removal efficiency, improving permeate biostability, and decreasing bulk organic content and specific fractional components, which was beneficial for membrane fouling mitigation. By series of well-designed batch-tests and estimation, trace-organics removal pathways were analyzed. The primary way of TCE removal was aeration volatilization, while that of NB and 2,4,6-TCP elimination was biodegradation which was greatly affected by biomass content within bulk. PAC addition was a positive way for effective trace-organics removal by increasing mixed solid adsorption capability, especially in start-up phase, and offering beneficial circumstances for biomass enrichment and functional bacteria accumulation. Thus, PAC addition into MBR is a simple and effective strategy to treat micro-polluted water resources. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.