Patent ID: 8889008

Claim:
A method of treating a membrane biological reactor mixed liquor containing at least one nonionic polysaccharide and amines, alcohols, glycerols, and glycols, the method comprising: a. conditioning a membrane biological reactor mixed liquor by combining an amount of polygalacturonic acid or salt thereof and the membrane biological reactor mixed liquor, thereby creating a conditioned mixed liquor; b. after mixing the conditioned mixed liquor for about 10 minutes, further conditioning the conditioned mixed liquor by combining an amount of a water soluble amphoteric polymer and the conditioned mixed liquor, thereby creating a further conditioned mixed liquor; and c. after mixing the further conditioned mixed liquor for about 10 minutes, continuously passing the further conditioned mixed liquor through a membrane at a suction pressure ranging from 1 to 7 psi; wherein the amounts of the polygalacturonic acid or salt thereof and the water soluble amphoteric polymer in the further conditioned mixed liquor are sufficient to allow for continuous passing of the further conditioned mixed liquor through the membrane for at least 20 hours at a flux of 36 LMH and a suction pressure ranging from 1 to 7 psi.