Sorbent coated hollow fiber filtration method using less spent sorbent flushing liquid

A method of purifying a liquid comprising the steps of:

• precoating a hollow-fiber filter in a hollow-fiber filter cartridge by:
• mixing a raw liquid stream which is to be filtered, with a sorbent dispensed from an inline sorbent dispenser (2), producing a mixed raw liquid/sorbent stream;
• introducing the mixed raw liquid/sorbent stream into an inlet (6) of a hollow-fiber filtration cartridge (3);
• flowing the introduced, mixed liquid/sorbent stream across the hollow-fibers contained within the hollow-fiber filtration cartridge, causing the sorbent to be removably deposited on exterior surfaces of the hollow fibers, while the raw liquid flows into an interior of the hollow fibers, producing a filtrate and a removable coating of sorbent on the exterior surfaces of the hollow fibers;
• flowing the filtrate out of a purified liquid outlet (7) of the hollow fiber cartridge (3);
• and
• terminating the dispensing of sorbent to the raw liquid stream;
• flowing the raw liquid stream through the inlet (6) of the hollow-fiber filtration cartridge (3), through the sorbent-coated hollow fibers, and a filtrate out through the purified liquid outlet (7);
• terminating the flow of the raw liquid stream into the inlet (6);
• removing spent sorbent from the surface of the fibers by introducing a flushing liquid into the hollow fiber filter cartridge causing a spent sorbent/flushing liquid mixture stream to flow out of the hollow-fiber filtration cartridge (3) through a flushing liquid outlet (8);
• separating most of the flushing liquid from the spent sorbent/flushing liquid mixture stream by introducing the sorbent/flushing liquid mixture stream into a flushing liquid and sorbent separation means (5) producing a clarified flushing liquid stream and a deliquefied sorbent;
• mixing the clarified flushing liquid stream with the raw liquid stream at a point upstream of the inline sorbent dispenser (2);
• flowing the mixed clarified flushing liquid/raw liquid stream into the inlet (6) of the hollow-fiber filtration cartridge;
• and
• flowing filtrate out through the purified liquid outlet (7).