AbstractMicellar enhanced ultrafiltration is a surfactant‐based separation process for wastewater treatment. The ultrafiltration of dodecyl pyridinium chloride (DPC) and sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate (SDBS) solutions was realized with 5 kDa and 15 kDa molecular weight cut‐off ceramic membranes. Surfactant concentrations under and over the micellar critical concentration at three different pressures were studied, and their effects on permeate flux and retention are reported. It was found that an increase in pressure operation, in 0.8–1.8 bar range, causes a lower surfactant concentration in permeate by the presence of a polarization layer. These systems were studied for phenol removal. DPC/phenol system (73.5 mM/0.53 mM) reaches a 61% removal of organic solute. SDBS/phenol system (14.7 mM/0.58 mM) reaches a 25% removal, both with 5 kDa membrane at 1.8 bar. In the case of the cationic surfactant the micelle's positive charge plays a preponderant role in attracting the phenol molecules, while the SDBS does not present this electrostatic interaction.