Patent ID: 7172701

Claim:
A method of treating water, comprising: a. contacting the water with at least one inorganic powder reagent with high specific surface area for reducing the content of organic matter in the water; and b. a membrane separation step including treating blow off products derived from the membrane separation step by separating the blow off products into at least two fractions: i. a first fraction containing a majority of the inorganic powder reagent in a first stream of water; ii. a second fraction containing a majority of organic matter not absorbed by the inorganic powder reagent rejected by the membrane separation step and concentrated in the blow off products in a second stream of water having a flow rate that exceeds the first stream of water; and iii. wherein the first fraction containing a majority of the inorganic powder reagent is rejuvenated in the water on the upstream side of where the water is treated with the inorganic powder reagent.