Wastewater　containing　trace　organic　contaminants　(TrOCs)　is　usually　poorly　purified　by　unmodified　polyamide　(PA)　membrane　due　to　its　poor　selectivity　and　low　water　permeability.　Herein　we　design　a　series　of　carboxylate-functionalized　PA　membranes　via　the　chelation　of　Fe3+　and　carboxylate　for　efficient　TrOCs　removal　through　forward　osmosis　(FO).　Citric　acid,　oxalic　acid　and　their　sodium　salts　are　individually　tethered　to　the　PA　membrane　in　water　under　ambient　conditions.　Factors　influencing　membrane　performance　are　systematically　investigated.　The　carboxylate　based　modification　greatly　improves　the　membrane　properties　that　substantially　enhance　its　separation　performance.　The　sodium　citrate　(CA-Na)　modified　membrane　produces　water　fluxes　of　up　to　106%　(PRO　mode)　and　144%　(FO　mode)　higher　than　those　of　the　PA　membrane.　This　membrane　also　increases　the　TrOCs　rejection　from　75%　to　over　92%,　irrespective　of　the　TrOCs　properties.　Membrane　fouling　experiments　reveal　that　the　water　flux　of　the　CA-Na　membrane　declines　by　26%,　while　that　of　the　PA　membrane　decreases　by　38%　after　10-h　tests.　The　flux　recovery　ratio　of　the　CA-Na　membrane　achieves　over　95%　after　physical　cleaning.　This　study　demonstrates　an　eco-friendly　protocol　to　construct　PA-based　membrane　for　efficient　TrOCs　removal.　©　2021　Elsevier　B.V.