This article presents a study on the enhanced antifouling and separation capabilities of polydopamine@Ce-MOF functionalized PES ultrafiltration (UF) membranes. The research aims to improve the performance of UF membranes by incorporating polydopamine (PDA)-modified cerium (Ce)-metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) into polyethersulfone (PES) membranes. The study demonstrates that the PDA@Ce-MOF composite significantly enhances the membrane's hydrophilicity, porosity, and pore size, leading to improved pure water flux and separation efficiency for biological macromolecules such as bovine serum albumin (BSA) and humic acid (HA). The membranes were fabricated using the non-solvent induced phase separation (NIPS) method with varying concentrations of PDA@Ce-MOF (0.05–0.50 wt.%). The optimal concentration of 0.10 wt.% PDA@Ce-MOF resulted in a pure water flux of 337 L m⁻² h⁻¹, with BSA and HA rejection rates of 98% and 88%, respectively. The PDA@Ce-MOF also significantly improved the antifouling properties of the membrane, with a flux recovery ratio (FRR) of ~87% after five cycles of BSA filtration. The enhanced antifouling performance is attributed to the hydrophilic functional groups of PDA and the negative charge of the Ce-MOF, which prevent the deposition of BSA on the membrane surface. The study also highlights the structural and functional characteristics of the PDA@Ce-MOF composite, including its high specific surface area, pore volume, and hydrophilicity. The membranes were characterized using various techniques, including SEM, XRD, FTIR, AFM, and zeta potential analysis, to evaluate their morphology, crystallinity, and surface properties. The results show that the PDA@Ce-MOF composite significantly improves the performance of PES membranes in terms of water permeation, separation efficiency, and antifouling capabilities. The findings of this study provide a promising approach for the development of advanced UF membranes with enhanced performance for wastewater treatment and water purification.This article presents a study on the enhanced antifouling and separation capabilities of polydopamine@Ce-MOF functionalized PES ultrafiltration (UF) membranes. The research aims to improve the performance of UF membranes by incorporating polydopamine (PDA)-modified cerium (Ce)-metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) into polyethersulfone (PES) membranes. The study demonstrates that the PDA@Ce-MOF composite significantly enhances the membrane's hydrophilicity, porosity, and pore size, leading to improved pure water flux and separation efficiency for biological macromolecules such as bovine serum albumin (BSA) and humic acid (HA). The membranes were fabricated using the non-solvent induced phase separation (NIPS) method with varying concentrations of PDA@Ce-MOF (0.05–0.50 wt.%). The optimal concentration of 0.10 wt.% PDA@Ce-MOF resulted in a pure water flux of 337 L m⁻² h⁻¹, with BSA and HA rejection rates of 98% and 88%, respectively. The PDA@Ce-MOF also significantly improved the antifouling properties of the membrane, with a flux recovery ratio (FRR) of ~87% after five cycles of BSA filtration. The enhanced antifouling performance is attributed to the hydrophilic functional groups of PDA and the negative charge of the Ce-MOF, which prevent the deposition of BSA on the membrane surface. The study also highlights the structural and functional characteristics of the PDA@Ce-MOF composite, including its high specific surface area, pore volume, and hydrophilicity. The membranes were characterized using various techniques, including SEM, XRD, FTIR, AFM, and zeta potential analysis, to evaluate their morphology, crystallinity, and surface properties. The results show that the PDA@Ce-MOF composite significantly improves the performance of PES membranes in terms of water permeation, separation efficiency, and antifouling capabilities. The findings of this study provide a promising approach for the development of advanced UF membranes with enhanced performance for wastewater treatment and water purification.