# US 8,785,349 B2 · Photocatalyst comprising TiO2 and activated carbon made from date pits

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- Number: US 8,785,349 B2
- Document ID: US8785349B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 13/350,952
- Filed: 2012-01-16
- Published: 2012-05-10
- Granted: 2014-07-22
- Earliest claimed: 2010-03-16
- Applicants: Yousef Saleh Al-Zeghayer; Sami M. Bashir; Ahmed V. Yaser; Hassan M. El Dekki; Waheed A. Al-Masry; Fadi M. Trabzuni
- Inventors: Yousef Saleh Al-Zeghayer; Sami M. Bashir; Ahmed V. Yaser; Hassan M. El Dekki; Waheed A. Al-Masry; Fadi M. Trabzuni
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8785349B2

## CPC

- B01D 53/8668: {Removing organic compounds not provided for in B01D53/8603 - B01D53/8665}
- B01J 20/06: comprising oxides or hydroxides of metals not provided for in group B01J20/04
- B01J 20/20: comprising free carbon; comprising carbon obtained by carbonising processes
- B01J 20/3204: {Inorganic carriers, supports or substrates}
- B01J 20/3236: {containing metal, other than zeolites, e.g. oxides, hydroxides, sulphides or salts}
- B01J 21/18: Carbon
- B01J 35/39: Photocatalytic properties
- B01J 37/0201: {Impregnation}
- C01B 32/324: from waste materials, e.g. tyres or spent sulfite pulp liquor
- C01B 32/336: characterised by gaseous activating agents
- B01D 2255/20707: Titanium
- B01D 2255/702: Carbon
- B01D 2255/802: Photocatalytic
- B01D 2257/7022: Aliphatic hydrocarbons
- B01D 2257/7027: Aromatic hydrocarbons
- B01D 2259/802: Visible light
- B01D 2259/804: UV light
- B01D: SEPARATION (separating solids from solids by wet methods B03B, B03D; by pneumatic jigs or tables B03B; by other dry methods B07; magnetic or electrostatic separation of solid materials from solid materials or fluids, separation by high-voltage electric fields B03C; centrifuges, vortex apparatus B04; presses per se for squeezing-out liquid from liquid-containing material B30B9/02; treatment of water C02F, e.g. softening by ion-exchange C02F1/42; {arrangements of air intake cleaners in gas turbine plants F02C7/05} ; arrangements or mounting of filters in air-conditioning, air-humidification or ventilation F24F13/28)
- 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}

## Abstract

A photocatalyst is provided that comprises activated carbon produced from date pits, impregnated with TiO2. The activated carbon can have a porous surface that can attract and trap pollutants flowing in air or water. The photocatalyst can be made by a method that includes preparing activated carbon by calcining date pits to form a precursor material, and then impregnating the precursor material with titanium dioxide.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method consisting essentially of:
contacting date pits with a phosphoric acid solution having a phosphoric acid concentration of from about 1% by weight to about 30% by weight, to form treated date pits;
drying the treated date pits to form treated, dried date pits;
heating the treated, dried date pits under a nitrogen blanket and under conditions to cause the treated, dried date pits to thermally decompose and form activated carbon; and
pulverizing and screening the activated carbon.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the phosphoric acid solution has a concentration of phosphoric acid of 5% by weight.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the concentration of phosphoric acid in the phosphoric acid solution is from about 5% by weight to about 20% by weight.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the treated date pits are treated at a temperature of from about 80° C. to about 150° C., for a period of from about 1 hour to about 12 hours, to dry the treated date pits, prior to the heating.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the heating occurs at a temperature of from about 300° C. to about 900° C.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the phosphoric acid solution has a concentration of phosphoric acid of 10% by weight.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising treating the activated carbon with carbon dioxide gas.

### Claim 8

A method comprising:
contacting date pits with an acidic aqueous solution, to form treated date pits;
heating the treated date pits under conditions to cause the treated date pits to thermally decompose and form activated carbon; and
impregnating the activated carbon with titanium dioxide, to form an impregnated product, wherein the impregnating comprises impregnating the activated carbon with a solution of titanium dioxide, to form the impregnated product.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, wherein the impregnating comprises impregnating the activated carbon with a solution comprising from 10% by weight to 50% by weight titanium dioxide, to form the impregnated product.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, wherein the impregnating comprises impregnating the activated carbon with a solution comprising from about 20% by weight to about 30%, by weight titanium dioxide, to form the impregnated product.

### Claim 11

A method consisting essentially of:
contacting date pits with a phosphoric acid solution having a phosphoric acid concentration of from about 1% by weight to about 30% by weight, to form treated date pits;
drying the treated date pits to form treated, dried date pits;
heating the treated, dried date pits under conditions to cause the treated, dried date pits to thermally decompose and form activated carbon;
pulverizing and screening the activated carbon; and
impregnating the activated carbon with titanium dioxide, to form an impregnated product.