Probing the fouling process and mechanisms of submerged ceramic membrane ultrafiltration during algal harvesting under sub- and super-critical fluxes

•The filtration process was more stable and last for longer under the sub-critical flux.•Supercritical flux achieved a lower volumetric reduction and a concentration factor but a higher productivity.•Supercritical flux led to slightly higher irreversible membrane fouling than sub-critical flux.•The increase in gel layer resistance was the dominant contributor to membrane resistance.