The removal of sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate (SDBS) and phenol from water by a combined process of PAC (powdered activated carbon) adsorption and cross-flow microfiltration (PAC-MF) was investigated. Batch PAC adsorption studies were made to, obtain the isotherm data. The PAC-MF experiments were performed as a function of PAC dose (0.2-1.0 g dm(-3)), solution pH (2.5-11.2), transmembrane pressure (10-30 psi), and cross-flow velocity (4.7-8.3 mm s(-1)). A compromise between removal efficiency of the organics and the permeate flux in the PAC-MF process was needed to select a suitable PAC dose. The role of pH in the PAC-MF process mainly depended on the acid-base nature of the organics being removed. A comparison of PAC-MF and fixed bed processes was also made, and the application potential of this PAC-MF process for continuous removal of relatively high-molar-mass organics such as SDBS from waste effluents was demonstrated. (C) 2004 Society of Chemical Industry.