In this study, the performance of Purolite (R) A500PS in effluent organic matter (EfOM) removal was evaluated through adsorption equilibrium, kinetics and fluidized bed experiments. It was found that the maximum EfOM removal capacity of Purolite (R) A500PS calculated by the Langmuir isotherm was 50.9 mg DOC/g Purolite (R) A500PS. The results also showed that fluidized bed operational conditions strongly affected the EfOM removal efficiency. A fluidized bed packed with Purolite (R) A500PS can maintain a consistent EfOM removal efficiency of more than 80% with more than 800 bed volumes from 10 mg DOC/L of synthetic wastewater. A majority of hydrophilic compounds (76.4%) and a significant amount of hydrophobic compounds (55%) were removed by the Purolite (R) A500PS fluidized bed. The Purolite (R) A500PS fluidized bed was also found to remove a majority of biopolymer (98.5%), humic substances (86.5%), and low molecular weight neutrals (83.3%). (c) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.