US 12102947 B1Patent grantUnited States

Date-Palm Biodegradable Air Filter

Official patent title

Biodegradable air filter from date palm and method of fabrication thereof

Arabic title: مرشح هواء قابل للتحلل الحيوي من نخيل التمر وطريقة تصنيعه

Invention

Problem

Common air-cleaning systems can require costly replacement or maintenance, consume energy, produce ozone, or provide limited removal of different airborne contaminants.

Why it matters

Indoor ventilation in hospitals, schools, offices, homes, and laboratories depends on filters that can capture particles while also addressing material sustainability and replacement waste.

Approach

The method converts date-palm biomass into cellulose nanofibers and activated carbon, mixes them with a polyalkylene-glycol binder, deposits the suspension on a porous support, and dries it into a solid filter structure.

Who may benefit

Potential beneficiaries include ventilation-filter manufacturers, indoor-air-quality researchers, building operators, and date-palm processing organizations seeking uses for agricultural residues.

Potential value

The disclosed filter combines two adsorptive components derived from date-palm residues in a specified solid structure, linking air-filter development with biomass utilization.

Background

Air filters are used to reduce circulating dust, pollutants, and microorganisms in occupied spaces. HEPA and ULPA systems can require frequent replacement and maintenance, while ultraviolet and ionizing purifiers may generate ozone or have operating limitations. Activated carbon offers a porous adsorptive surface, and cellulose nanofibers offer high surface area. Date-palm pruning and processing residues provide both carbon and cellulose feedstocks, motivating a filter that uses locally available biomass rather than relying only on conventional materials.

Technology overview

Cellulose nanofibers are isolated from treated date-palm solids, while activated carbon is produced by staged heating and alkaline activation of date-processing waste. The two materials are dispersed in water, combined with a polyethylene-glycol embodiment of the binder, sonicated, filtered onto a porous substrate, and dried. The claims define processing temperatures, sonication conditions, composition ranges, and dimensions for the resulting solid structure.

Potential applications

Candidate filter media for ventilation systems in schools, offices, homes, hospitals, or laboratories.
Adsorptive filter layers for research on removal of airborne odors and particulate pollutants.
Biomass-derived filter prototypes for indoor-air-quality studies.
Value-added use of date-palm pruning and processing residues in engineered materials.

Evidence-supported advantages

Both cellulose nanofibers and activated carbon are derived from date-palm biomass.
The filter combines fibrous and porous adsorptive components in one solid structure.
The claims provide defined preparation, activation, sonication, and drying conditions.
Composition and filter dimensions can be adjusted within disclosed ranges.

Development stage

Patent publication; development stage not independently verified.

Commercial opportunity

The process may support collaboration with filter manufacturers and agricultural-waste processors. Commercial evaluation should first measure particle-removal efficiency, pressure drop, microbial retention, service life, biodegradation, emissions, and manufacturing cost against the requirements of a defined filtration class. Supply consistency would also require assessment.

Patent classifications

WIPO IPC

B01D39/18Separation
B01D39/20Separation
D21C11/00Production of cellulose by removing non-cellulose substances; regeneration of pulping liquors; apparatus therefor

CPC

B01J20/3007Chemical or physical processes, e.g. catalysis or colloid chemistry; their relevant apparatus
D21C9/002Production of cellulose by removing non-cellulose substances; regeneration of pulping liquors; apparatus therefor
D21C9/001Production of cellulose by removing non-cellulose substances; regeneration of pulping liquors; apparatus therefor
D21H21/22Pulp compositions and their preparation; impregnating or coating paper; treatment of finished paper; paper not otherwise provided for
D21H17/53Pulp compositions and their preparation; impregnating or coating paper; treatment of finished paper; paper not otherwise provided for
B01J20/3071Chemical or physical processes, e.g. catalysis or colloid chemistry; their relevant apparatus
B01J20/3042Chemical or physical processes, e.g. catalysis or colloid chemistry; their relevant apparatus
D21H27/08Pulp compositions and their preparation; impregnating or coating paper; treatment of finished paper; paper not otherwise provided for
B01J20/2803Chemical or physical processes, e.g. catalysis or colloid chemistry; their relevant apparatus
D21H11/12Pulp compositions and their preparation; impregnating or coating paper; treatment of finished paper; paper not otherwise provided for
B01D46/0001Separation
B01J20/3078Chemical or physical processes, e.g. catalysis or colloid chemistry; their relevant apparatus
D21C9/02Production of cellulose by removing non-cellulose substances; regeneration of pulping liquors; apparatus therefor
B01D46/0036Separation
D21H11/18Pulp compositions and their preparation; impregnating or coating paper; treatment of finished paper; paper not otherwise provided for
B01D39/18Separation
B01D46/543Separation
B01J20/3085Chemical or physical processes, e.g. catalysis or colloid chemistry; their relevant apparatus
D21C3/02Production of cellulose by removing non-cellulose substances; regeneration of pulping liquors; apparatus therefor
D21H17/74Pulp compositions and their preparation; impregnating or coating paper; treatment of finished paper; paper not otherwise provided for
B01J20/20Chemical or physical processes, e.g. catalysis or colloid chemistry; their relevant apparatus
B01J20/28028Chemical or physical processes, e.g. catalysis or colloid chemistry; their relevant apparatus
B01D39/2062Separation
B01D2239/0407Separation
B01D2239/1291Separation
D21C11/125Production of cellulose by removing non-cellulose substances; regeneration of pulping liquors; apparatus therefor
B01D2239/0266Separation
B01D2239/086Separation
D21H17/63Pulp compositions and their preparation; impregnating or coating paper; treatment of finished paper; paper not otherwise provided for
B01D2239/10Separation
B01D2239/025Separation
B01D2239/0283Separation
D21C11/0007Production of cellulose by removing non-cellulose substances; regeneration of pulping liquors; apparatus therefor

Inventors

First inventorTarek Ahmed Yousef
InventorOsamah Abdulrahman Aldaghri
InventorSaad Shaaban

Keywords

air filter
date palm
cellulose nanofibers
activated carbon
biomass
adsorption
polyethylene glycol
indoor air

Patent document and drawings

The patent publication is mapped to this record. Patent drawings remain within that publication; no separately cleared public media package has been supplied.