Palm-Waste Organoselenium Photocatalyst
Official patent title
Method of treating palm waste to form organoselenium nanocomposite
Arabic title: طريقة معالجة مخلفات النخيل لتكوين مركب نانوي من السيلينيوم العضوي
Invention
Invention
Problem
TiO2 photocatalysts primarily use ultraviolet light and may offer limited performance under visible light, prompting development of supported hybrid materials that improve charge transfer and pollutant contact.
Why it matters
Hybrid photocatalysts that combine adsorption and light-driven reaction functions could provide new research routes for contaminant treatment under broader illumination conditions.
Approach
The method combines palm-waste biochar, multi-walled carbon nanotubes, TiO2 nanoparticles, and an organoselenium compound in a chlorinated, covalently functionalized Se-TiO2-MWCNT/biochar nanocomposite.
Who may benefit
Potential beneficiaries include photocatalysis researchers, water- and air-treatment material developers, nanocomposite manufacturers, catalyst companies, and palm-biomass processors.
Potential value
The platform combines a biomass-derived adsorptive support with MWCNT, TiO2, and organoselenium chemistry in one specified fabrication sequence, enabling structured optimization of a multifunctional photocatalyst.
Background
Background
TiO2 is widely studied because of its oxidative capability and photostability under ultraviolet light, but it uses only a small portion of the solar spectrum and therefore has limited visible-light utility. Organoselenium compounds can participate in redox reactions, while carbon nanotubes and biochar can provide conductive and adsorptive support. The patent proposes combining these components to facilitate electron transfer and increase contact with organic contaminants. Its manufacturing route also incorporates palm waste into the support, but the assigned evidence does not independently prove treatment efficiency or field durability.
Technology overview
Technology overview
Palm waste powder and 1–5 wt.% MWCNT are acid-treated with phosphoric acid and carbonized at 500–900 °C under inert gas. TiO2 nanoparticles of 50–350 nm are mixed with the MWCNT/biochar. Acyl groups are chlorinated by refluxing with oxalyl chloride in an ultrasonic bath, then reacted with an organoselenium amidic acid and an aliphatic amine. The solid Se-TiO2-MWCNT/biochar fraction can be separated and calcined at 400–800 °C. The claims define feed size, gas flow, temperatures, and reaction materials.
Potential applications
Potential applications
- Potential use in photocatalytic studies for organic-contaminant degradation in water.
- Potential use in light-active media for air-treatment research.
- Potential use in catalyst-coated reactor surfaces or filter supports.
- Potential use as a laboratory platform for visible-light photocatalyst development.
Evidence-supported advantages
Evidence-supported advantages
- Integrates adsorption, conductive carbon, TiO2, and organoselenium functions in one material.
- Uses palm waste as a precursor for the biochar support.
- Defines MWCNT loading, TiO2 particle size, and key thermal-processing ranges.
- Uses chlorination and amine-assisted reaction to attach the organoselenium component.
Development stage
Development stage
Patent publication describing nanocomposite fabrication and process parameters; commercialization and independent photocatalytic-performance validation were not established.
Commercial opportunity
Commercial opportunity
The material may support collaborations with catalyst, nanomaterial, or treatment-system developers. Commercial diligence should address scale-up of the multistep chemistry, oxalyl-chloride handling, selenium content, particle containment, catalyst recovery, leaching, comparative photocatalytic activity, operating lifetime, and safety for each intended water or air application.
Patent classifications
Patent classifications
WIPO IPC
- B01J31/12Chemical or physical processes, e.g. catalysis or colloid chemistry; their relevant apparatus
- B01J37/04Chemical or physical processes, e.g. catalysis or colloid chemistry; their relevant apparatus
CPC
- B01J21/185Chemical or physical processes, e.g. catalysis or colloid chemistry; their relevant apparatus
- B01J31/0247Chemical or physical processes, e.g. catalysis or colloid chemistry; their relevant apparatus
- B01J31/0272Chemical or physical processes, e.g. catalysis or colloid chemistry; their relevant apparatus
- B01J31/0275Chemical or physical processes, e.g. catalysis or colloid chemistry; their relevant apparatus
- B01J31/122Chemical or physical processes, e.g. catalysis or colloid chemistry; their relevant apparatus
- B01J37/04Chemical or physical processes, e.g. catalysis or colloid chemistry; their relevant apparatus
- B01J37/084Chemical or physical processes, e.g. catalysis or colloid chemistry; their relevant apparatus
- B01J37/24Chemical or physical processes, e.g. catalysis or colloid chemistry; their relevant apparatus
- C07F11/00Acyclic, carbocyclic or heterocyclic compounds containing elements other than carbon, hydrogen, halogen, oxygen, nitrogen, sulfur, selenium or tellurium
- B01J35/39Chemical or physical processes, e.g. catalysis or colloid chemistry; their relevant apparatus
Inventors
Inventors
- First inventorTarek Ahmed Yousef
- InventorHanan A. Althikrallah
- InventorSaad Shaaban
- InventorMohsen Ahmed
Keywords
Keywords
- organoselenium
- MWCNT
- biochar
- TiO2
- palm waste
- photocatalysis
- nanocomposite
- visible light
Patent document and drawings
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.