Effects of wastewater and mixed liquor characteristics on membrane fouling in both a submerged anaerobic membrane bioreactor and a thermophilic submerged aerobic membrane bioreactor were studied with four types of industrial wastewaters. Significant differences in particle size distribution, colloidal content, the protein to polysaccharide ratio, and soluble compounds molecular weight distribution were observed among the four types of wastewaters and mixed liquors. Differences in wastewater and mixed liquor characteristics were correlated to the changes in membrane filtration behavior in both systems. The colloidal content in feed and mixed liquor plays a dominant role and is more important than the quantity of total suspended solids in controlling membrane fouling. The ratio of proteins to polysaccharides is more important than the total quantity of soluble organic substances in controlling membrane fouling. A full characterization of feed and mixed liquor may be used as a tool to predict membrane performance. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.