US 12,447,463 B2
Method for making bentonite/natural fiber nanocomposite
Abdulrahman G. Alhamzani, Riyadh (SA); and Saad A. Aljlil, Riyadh (SA)
Assigned to IMAM MUHAMMAD IBN SAUD ISLAMIC UNIVERSITY, Riyadh (SA)
Filed by IMAM MUHAMMAD IBN SAUD ISLAMIC UNIVERSITY, Riyadh (SA)
Filed on Sep. 6, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/826,568.
Application 18/826,568 is a continuation of application No. 18/165,366, filed on Feb. 7, 2023.
Prior Publication US 2025/0281900 A1, Sep. 11, 2025
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. B01J 20/24 (2006.01); B01J 20/16 (2006.01); B01J 20/28 (2006.01); B01J 20/30 (2006.01); C02F 1/28 (2023.01); C08B 15/00 (2006.01); C02F 101/20 (2006.01); C02F 101/30 (2006.01)
CPC B01J 20/24 (2013.01) [B01J 20/165 (2013.01); B01J 20/28007 (2013.01); B01J 20/28011 (2013.01); B01J 20/28026 (2013.01); B01J 20/3021 (2013.01); B01J 20/3071 (2013.01); B01J 20/3078 (2013.01); B01J 20/3085 (2013.01); C02F 1/288 (2013.01); C08B 15/00 (2013.01); B01J 2220/46 (2013.01); B01J 2220/4806 (2013.01); B01J 2220/485 (2013.01); C02F 1/281 (2013.01); C02F 1/286 (2013.01); C02F 2101/20 (2013.01); C02F 2101/308 (2013.01); C02F 2305/08 (2013.01)] 17 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of making a nanocomposite, comprising:
cutting, washing and drying date-palm tree leaflets, then grinding to form fibers;
treating the fibers with an acid solution and heating thereby removing hemicellulose and forming a suspension;
mixing the suspension with water and an alkaline solution and heating thereby removing lignin and silica and forming an alkaline mixture containing hydrolyzed cellulose;
filtering the alkaline mixture and washing with water until the pH value is 6.5-7.5, to obtain the hydrolyzed cellulose;
mixing the hydrolyzed cellulose with water and an oxidizing agent at a pH of 3-6 and heating to form a bleached cellulose suspension containing bleached cellulose;
treating the bleached cellulose with the diluted acid solution and heating to form a crude nanocellulose suspension;
dialyzing the nanocellulose suspension containing nanocellulose against water until pH value is 6.7-6.9, separating the nanocellulose from the nanocellulose suspension, and drying to form the nanocellulose particles having a width in a range of 5 to 100 nanometers (nm);
dispersing the nanocellulose particles and nano-bentonite in water to form a wet mixture;
drying by heating the wet mixture at a temperature of at least 40° C. to form a dry mixture;
mixing the dry mixture with an alkylamine to form a nanocomposite composition;
heating the nanocomposite composition at a temperature of at least 100° C. to form a paste; and
drying and milling the paste to form the nanocomposite;
wherein the nanocellulose is prepared from date-palm tree leaflets; and
wherein the nano-bentonite is prepared from Saudi Arabia bentonite clay from the Khulays Mine and has a particle size in a range of 5 to 100 nm.