US 12274964 B1Patent grantUnited States

Cellulose-Carbon Biodegradable Air Filter

Official patent title

Cellulose based biodegradable absorptive filter and method of making

Arabic title: مرشح امتصاصي قابل للتحلل الحيوي قائم على السليلوز وطريقة تصنيعه

Invention

Problem

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

Why it matters

Ventilation in hospitals, schools, offices, homes, and laboratories needs filter media that capture particles while also addressing material sourcing and replacement waste.

Approach

The method converts date-palm biomass into cellulose nanofibers and activated carbon, disperses both materials with a polyalkylene-glycol binder, casts 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 processors seeking uses for agricultural residues.

Potential value

The filter combines cellulose nanofibers and activated carbon derived from date-palm residues in a defined supported structure, linking air filtration with biomass utilization.

Background

Air filters reduce circulating dust, pollutants, and microorganisms in occupied spaces. HEPA and ULPA systems may require frequent replacement and maintenance, while ultraviolet and ionizing purifiers can generate ozone or have operating limitations. Activated carbon provides porous adsorptive surfaces, and cellulose nanofibers provide high surface area. Date-palm pruning and processing residues supply both carbon and cellulose feedstocks, motivating a filter material that uses available biomass instead of relying only on conventional sources.

Technology overview

Cellulose nanofibers are isolated from alkali-treated date-palm solids, while activated carbon is produced by staged heating and alkaline activation of date-processing waste under an inert atmosphere. The two materials are dispersed in water, combined with a polyethylene-glycol binder embodiment, sonicated, cast on filter paper or a polyester net, and dried. The claims define activation and drying temperatures, sonication conditions, composition ranges, support geometry, and filter dimensions.

Potential applications

Candidate filter media for ventilation systems in occupied indoor spaces.
Adsorptive layers for research on airborne odors and particulate pollutants.
Biomass-derived filter prototypes for indoor-air-quality studies.
Value-added use of date-palm pruning and processing residues.

Evidence-supported advantages

Both cellulose nanofibers and activated carbon originate from date-palm biomass.
The filter combines fibrous and porous adsorptive components in one structure.
The claims define preparation, activation, sonication, casting, and drying conditions.
Composition, porous support, and filter dimensions can vary 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 measure particle-removal efficiency, pressure drop, microbial retention, adsorption capacity, service life, biodegradation, process emissions, supply consistency, and manufacturing cost against a defined filtration standard. Scalable quality control would also be needed.

Patent classifications

WIPO IPC

B01D39/18Separation
B01D39/20Separation

CPC

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

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.