# US 11,896,958 B1 · Zirconium doped terbium nano oxides for wastewater remediation

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- Number: US 11,896,958 B1
- Document ID: US11896958B1
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B1
- Application number: 18/233,058
- Filed: 2023-08-11
- Granted: 2024-02-13
- Earliest claimed: 2023-08-11
- Assignees: King Faisal University
- Applicants: King Faisal University
- Inventors: Mai Mostafa Khalaf Ali; Hany Mohamed Abd El-Lateef Ahmed; Mohamed Salaheldeen; Ahmed M. Abu-Dief; Zeid M. Owidah
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11896958B1

## CPC

- B01J 23/10: of rare earths
- B01J 21/066: {Zirconium or hafnium; Oxides or hydroxides thereof}
- B01J 35/39: Photocatalytic properties
- B01J 35/45: Nanoparticles
- B01J 37/031: {Precipitation}
- B01J 37/04: Mixing {(B01J37/0009, B01J37/0018 take precedence)}
- B01J 37/06: Washing {(B01J37/0009, B01J37/0018 take precedence)}
- B01J 37/08: Heat treatment {(B01J37/0009, B01J37/0018 take precedence)}
- C09B 67/0001: {Post-treatment of organic pigments or dyes}
- B01J 2235/30: Scanning electron microscopy; Transmission electron microscopy
- B01J: CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS
- C09B: ORGANIC DYES OR CLOSELY-RELATED COMPOUNDS FOR PRODUCING DYES {, e.g. PIGMENTS}; MORDANTS; LAKES (fermentation or enzyme using processes to synthesise a desired chemical compound C12P)

## Abstract

Zirconium doped terbium nano oxides (ZrTb2O3). The nano oxides can have an average diameter ranging from about 17 nm to about 22 nm. The nano oxides can be used as a photocatalyst for photodegradation of organic dyes. In an embodiment, the organic dyes include textile wastewater dyes. In an embodiment, the textile wastewater dyes include methylene blue (MB) and/or Congo Red (CR). In an embodiment, the zirconium doped terbium nano oxides (ZrTb2O3) can be prepared by a dual co-precipitation and calcination method.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for making zirconium doped terbium nano oxides, the method comprising:
dissolving terbium nitrate (Tb(NO3)3.6H2O) and zirconium nitrate hydrate (Zr(NO3)3.xH2O) in water to obtain a solution;
adjusting pH of the solution to about 7.5 by dropwise addition of a solution of NaHCO3;
stirring to obtain a homogenous solution containing zirconium (Zr(CO3)2.xH2O) and terbium (Tb2(CO3)3.xH2O) carbonate precipitates;
centrifuging and drying the homogenous solution to obtain Zr(CO3)2 and Tb2(CO3)3 metal carbonates;
calcinating the Zr(CO3)2 and Tb2(CO3)3 metal carbonates at a temperature of about 825° C. to about 875° C.; and
obtaining the zirconium doped terbium nano oxides (ZrTb2O3).

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein a solution of NaHCO3 is added dropwise to the solution until the solution reaches a pH of about 7.5 before the homogenous solution containing the zirconium (Zr(CO3)2.xH2O) and terbium (Tb2(CO3)3.xH2O) carbonate precipitates is obtained.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the calcinating occurs for at least about 2 hours at a temperature of about 850° C.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the drying occurs at about 120° C. for at least about 2 hours.