Date Seed Powder Filtration Media for Suspended Solids Removal

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional water filtration media, such as anthracite, garnet, and sand, are inefficient and costly, and date seeds, a significant waste product, are underutilized, leading to environmental waste and increased landfill burden.

Innovation Solution

Process date seeds to create a filtration media by drying, cleaning, removing membranes, grinding, and segregating by size to produce a date seed media that can be used in single or mixed media filtration systems to remove suspended solids, utilizing the unique density and adsorption properties of date seeds.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If conventional filtration media (anthracite, garnet, sand) are used, then filtration function is provided, but cost is high and efficiency is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefiltration efficiencyVSAvoidcost

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent converts date seeds, which are waste products from date fruit processing, into effective filtration media. By transforming this harmful waste that burdens landfills into a useful filtration material, the invention simultaneously reduces environmental pollution and provides a cost-effective alternative to conventional media like anthracite and garnet, thereby improving filtration efficiency while reducing costs

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs date seed media as a low-cost, readily available material that can be processed into effective filtration media. The abundance and low cost of date seeds as agricultural waste make them an economically superior alternative to expensive conventional media, achieving both cost reduction and functional effectiveness

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

2Loss of substance

If date seeds are utilized as filtration media, then waste reduction is achieved, but additional processing steps are required

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewaste reductionVSAvoidprocessing complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of substanceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies segmentation by dividing date seeds into different particle size ranges (20-40 mesh, 40-60 mesh, 60-80 mesh) through systematic screening. This segmentation process transforms raw date seeds into standardized filtration media with controlled particle sizes, making the waste material suitable for technical applications while managing the processing complexity through methodical size classification

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transforms date seeds from their raw state into filtration media by changing key parameters: drying to reduce moisture content, removing membranes to alter surface properties, and controlling particle size distribution. These parameter changes convert agricultural waste into technologically functional material, achieving waste reduction while establishing a systematic processing approach

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Ease of operation

If backwashing is performed to clean filter bed, then suspended solids are removed, but layers become disrupted and mixed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecleaning capabilityVSAvoidlayer stratification

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by creating distinct layers with different particle size characteristics - a coarse layer (20-40 mesh) at the top and a fine layer (60-80 mesh) at the bottom. This local differentiation in particle size distribution within the filter bed enables both effective filtration and easier backwashing, as the layered structure with varying pore sizes facilitates suspended solids removal while maintaining compositional stability through gravitational re-stratification

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

4Device complexity

If uniform particle size media is used, then filtration is simplified, but filtration efficiency and run time are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemedia uniformityVSAvoidfiltration efficiency and run time

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by creating distinct layers with different particle size characteristics - a coarse layer (20-40 mesh) at the top and a fine layer (60-80 mesh) at the bottom. This local differentiation in particle size distribution within the filter bed enables both effective filtration and easier backwashing, as the layered structure with varying pore sizes facilitates suspended solids removal while maintaining compositional stability through gravitational re-stratification

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies segmentation by dividing date seeds into different particle size ranges (20-40 mesh, 40-60 mesh, 60-80 mesh) through systematic screening. This segmentation process transforms raw date seeds into standardized filtration media with controlled particle sizes, making the waste material suitable for technical applications while managing the processing complexity through methodical size classification

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The date seed media provides efficient filtration, reduces waste, is cost-effective, and enhances filtration efficiency by maintaining stratified layers without additional support, allowing for longer run times and effective removal of contaminants.

Implementation Method 1

filtering the water stream with the date seed media bed layer, accumulating suspended solids in the date seed media bed layer

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFiltration: Filter (physical)

Implementation Method 2

utilizing the unique density and adsorption properties of date seeds

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAdsorption: Adsorption

Implementation Method 3

allowing the water stream to settle and accumulate suspended solids in the date seed media bed layer

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSedimentation: Sedimentation

Implementation Method 4

suspended solids become trapped in the filter media

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhysical trapping: Filter (physical)

Data Source

PatentUS12357927B2Date seed powder for water filtration treatment

Publication Date: 2025.07.15 SAUDI ARABIAN OIL CO

AI summary

Systems and methods for generating and using a water filtration media containing date seed powder are provided. The method of generating the date seed powder for use in a water treatment system includes drying the date seeds, cleaning and removing the date seed envelopes, grinding the date seeds, and segregating the date seed powder according to a predetermined particle size. The method of using the date seed powder to treat water includes using a treatment tank with a date seed media bed layer, introducing water, and filtering suspended solids from the water stream using the date seed media bed layer. The system utilizing the date seed media bed layer includes a treatment tank, a date seed media bed layer, water inlets and outlets, backwashing equipment, and media support screens.