# US 11,305,258 B2 · Nanocomposite hydrogels and methods of using same in purifying a fluid

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 11,305,258 B2
- Document ID: US11305258B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/326,476
- Filed: 2017-08-18
- Published: 2020-11-19
- Granted: 2022-04-19
- Earliest claimed: 2016-08-19
- Assignees: The Royal Institution for the Advancement of Learning/Mcgill University
- Applicants: The Royal Institution for the Advancement of Learning/Mcgill University
- Inventors: Nathalie Tufenkji; Nariman Yousefi; Zeinab Hosseinidoust; Kerwin Wong
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11305258B2

## CPC

- B01J 20/3078: {Thermal treatment, e.g. calcining or pyrolizing}
- B01J 20/205: {Carbon nanostructures, e.g. nanotubes, nanohorns, nanocones, nanoballs (carbon nanotubes per se C01B32/15)}
- B01J 20/24: Naturally occurring macromolecular compounds, e.g. humic acids or their derivatives
- B01J 20/28007: {with size in the range 1-100 nanometers, e.g. nanosized particles, nanofibers, nanotubes, nanowires or the like (carbon nanostructures B01J20/205)}
- B01J 20/28047: {Gels}
- B01J 20/3085: {Chemical treatments not covered by groups B01J20/3007 - B01J20/3078}
- C01B 32/198: Graphene oxide
- C02F 1/288: {using composite sorbents, e.g. coated, impregnated, multi-layered}
- B82Y 30/00: Nanotechnology for materials or surface science, e.g. nanocomposites
- B82Y 40/00: Manufacture or treatment of nanostructures
- C02F 1/283: {using coal, charred products, or inorganic mixtures containing them}
- C02F 1/285: {using synthetic organic sorbents}
- C02F 2101/20: Heavy metals or heavy metal compounds
- C02F 2101/305: {Endocrine disruptive agents}
- C02F 2303/04: Disinfection
- B01J: CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS
- C01B: NON-METALLIC ELEMENTS; COMPOUNDS THEREOF; {METALLOIDS OR COMPOUNDS THEREOF NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASS C01C}
- C02F: TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE (separation in general B01D; special arrangements on waterborne vessels of installations for treating water, waste water or sewage, e.g. for producing fresh water, B63J; adding materials to water to prevent corrosion C23F; treating radioactively-contaminated liquids G21F9/04; regeneration of reactants for recirculation into processes, see the relevant places for the processes)
- B82Y: SPECIFIC USES OR APPLICATIONS OF NANOSTRUCTURES; MEASUREMENT OR ANALYSIS OF NANOSTRUCTURES; MANUFACTURE OR TREATMENT OF NANOSTRUCTURES

## Abstract

There is provided herein a method for preparing a graphene oxide (GO) hydrogel. The method comprises the steps of adding vitamin C (VC) to a dispersion GO in a ratio GO:VC varying from 1:50 to 1:300; and incubating at a temperature above 45° C., preferably at 95° C. the dispersion for a time sufficient for a porous hydrogel to be self-assembled from the dispersion. CNPs can also be added to the hydrogel in a ratio GO:CNPs from 4:1 to 1:1. There is also provided the hydrogel so obtained and its use for removing contaminants from a fluid. The hydrogel can also be used as a filter for such decontamination.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A hydrogel prepared by a method comprising the steps of:
a) adding vitamin C (VC) to a dispersion GO:VC varying from 1:50 to 1:3000; and
b) incubating at a temperature above 45° C. the dispersion of a) for a time sufficient for a porous hydrogel to be self-assembled from the dispersion.

### Claim 2

A hydrogel prepared by a method comprising the steps of
a) adding in a suspension graphene oxide (GO) to cellulose nano-particles (CNPs) in a ratio GO:CNPs from 4:1 to 1:1;
b) adding to the suspension of a) vitamin C (CV) in a ratio GO:VC varying from 1:50 to 1:300; and
c) incubating at a temperature above 45° C. the dispersion of a) for a time sufficient for a porous hydrogel to be self-assembled from the dispersion.

### Claim 3

A porous self-assembling hydrogel comprising graphene oxide (GO) and cellulose nano-particles (CNPs) in a ratio GO:CNPs from 4:1 to 1:1.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The porous self-assembling hydrogel of claim 3, wherein the ratio GO:CNPs is 2:1.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1, 2, 3, 4)

A filter comprising the hydrogel of any one of claims 1 and 2-4.