Coffee Waste Research Articles

Production and Characterization of Compost Macro Nutrients from Mamasa Coffee Waste

Production and Characterization of Compost Macro Nutrients from Mamasa Coffee Waste

Application of coffee pulp-derived pectins as a novel coating spray to mitigate Paramyrothecium breviseta, an etiological agent inducing leaf spot disease in coffee

Coffee pulp is a significant byproduct of wet processing and poses ecological risks by contributing to soil acidification and diminished fertility in local ecosystems. Despite its potential environmental impact, coffee pulp is rich in various components, including valuable polysaccharides. This study focuses on extracting pectin from coffee pulp using HCl/KCl and ammonium oxalate. The total yield achieved was approximately 11 %, encompassing distinct types of pectins: Acidic coffee pulp pectin (ACPP) and basidic coffee pulp pectin (BCPP), which represent high and low methoxylate forms, respectively. The fabrication of the pectin (1 %) coating agent was accomplished by combining it with chitosan to form a polyelectrolyte complex (1 %) in a ratio of 10:1. The coffee pulp polyphenols fraction (CPPF), was embedded in the agent at 0.5 g/mL and characterised for inhibiting Paramyrothecium breviseta, a pathogen causing leaf spot in coffee. Experimental results demonstrated that the coating spray, derived from coated ACPP and coated CPPF exhibited the highest efficacy in inhibiting P. breviseta at distances of 0.00 and 1.70 cm on day 16, respectively. This efficacy was significantly different from both the negative control (7.40 cm) and the positive control (4.30 cm). This research highlights the potential of utilising coffee pulp as a valuable resource for pectin extraction and underscores the effectiveness of a formulated coating spray in mitigating the impact of the leaf spot-causing pathogen. The findings contribute to sustainable practices in coffee waste management while presenting a promising approach for plant disease control in coffee cultivation.

The use of coffee waste in bio-foamed concrete brick (B-FCB) to reduce the penetration of carbon dioxide (CO2) into concrete

Abstract The aim of this study was to examine the potential of coffee waste (CW) in reducing the carbonation of bio-foamed concrete brick (B-FCB). This study utilised coffee waste (CW) as an alternative material to replace cement, with different concentrations of 1%, 5%, and 10%. Furthermore, the utilisation of Bacillus tequilensis (B. tequilensis) was employed with the objective of achieving self-healing. A 2k factorial design was employed to perform a statistical analysis aiming to optimise the carbonation depth of B-FCB incorporating CW for a duration of 28 days. The experiment consisted of 11 runs. The performance of carbonation depth as response of this study was monitored with three main factors namely the density of concrete (D), coffee waste (CW), and B. tequilensis (B), respectively. The factors were bounded by upper and lower limits of 1300 kg/m3 and 1800 kg/m3, 1% and 10%, and 3x105 cell/ml and 3x107 cell/ml, respectively. The study established that the ideal carbonation depth was 8 mm, based on specific conditions as follow; 1300 kg/m3 of concrete D, 1% of CW and 3×105 cell/ml of B at 28 days. On the other hand, it was observed that the carbonation depth had a value of zero when the cement was replaced with 10% CW in runs 5, 6, 7, and 8. The empirical findings illustrate the effects of (CW) on reducing the level of carbonation in B-FCB, hence promoting its long-term sustainability.

Boron-Nitrogen-Edged Biomass-Derived Carbon: A Multifunctional Approach for Colorimetric Detection of H2O2, Flame Retardancy, and Triboelectric Nanogenerator.

Enhancing the concentration and type of nitrogen (N) dopants within the Sp2-carbon domain of carbon recycled from biomass sources is an efficient approach to mimic CNT, GO, and rGO to activate oxidants such as H2O2, excluding toxic chemicals and limiting reaction steps. However, monitoring the kind and concentration of N species in the Sp2-C domain is unlikely with thermal treatments only. A high temperature for graphitization reduces N moieties, leading to low electron density. This inhibits H2O2 adsorption and activation on catalyst surfaces. In this study, coffee waste (CW) is converted into B, N-doped biochar (BXNbY) using boric acid-assisted pyrolysis (H3BO3mass = X and carbonization temperature = Y) under N2 to overcome the challenge. The B dopant regulates the concentration and type of N, provides Lewis's acid sites, and converts graphitic-N to pyridine-N in BXNbY. The optimized B3Nb900 exhibits excellent colorimetric sensing performance toward H2O2 with a low detection limit (36.9nM) and high selectivity in the presence of many interferences and milk samples due to high pyridinic-N and Sp2 domain sizes. Interestingly, B enhances other properties of N-containing CW-derived carbon and introduces self-extinguishing and tribopositive properties. Hence, BXNbY-coated polyurethane foam shows excellent flame retardancy and energy harvesting performance.

Obtaining a biodegradable biocatalyst – study on lipase immobilization on spent coffee grounds as potential carriers

Coffee waste can be reused as matrices for enzyme immobilization, as it contains various organic compounds able to adsorb catalytic proteins. In this study, spent coffee grounds were used as a support in the immobilization process in their native form and after being pretreated with hexane, ethanol, and sulphuric acid solution, respectively. Microbial lipases from Aspergillus oryzae, Thermomyces lanuginosus, and Rhizomucor miehei were adsorbed on the carrier, and as a reference, the abovementioned lipases were also immobilized on a synthetic matrix - Lewatit VP OC 1600. The research investigated the impact of the purification step on the immobilization process and the full characteristics of the obtained biocatalysts. The hydrolytic and synthetic activities of the immobilized enzyme preparations were tested, as well as substrate specificity, recovery, and temperature and pH activity profiles. SEM and FTIR analyses were also performed. The results showed that the chemical composition of coffee waste influenced the activity of the obtained biocatalysts, and the lack of hemicellulose caused a reduction in lipolytic activity. The study reveals that spent coffee grounds can be a potential support for enzyme immobilization, and lipases adsorbed on them have improved properties such as hydrolytic or synthetic activity, and stability in pH.

Addition of spent coffee grounds and waste glass to enhance the physical–mechanical and thermal properties of fired clay bricks at reduced temperatures

Addition of spent coffee grounds and waste glass to enhance the physical–mechanical and thermal properties of fired clay bricks at reduced temperatures

Oxygen-enriched carbon quantum dots from coffee waste: Extremely active organic photocatalyst for sustainable solar-to-H2O2 conversion

Solar-driven artificial photosynthesis offers a promising avenue for hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) generation, an efficient and economical replacement for current methods. The efficiency and selectivity hurdles of the two-electron oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in solar-to- H2O2 conversion are substantial barriers to large scale production. In this manuscript, a simple biomass-assisted synthesis was performed to produce oxygen-enriched carbon quantum dots (OE-CQDs) from spent coffee waste, acting as an efficient photocatalyst for solar-powered H2O2 production. OE-CQDs can stabilize and store light-generated electrons effectively, boosting charge separation and enhancing photocatalytic performance with longevity. The maximal photocatalytic H2O2 production was achieved viz the utilization of OE-CQDs with generation rate of 356.86 μmol g-1 h-1 by retaining 80% activity without any external sacrificial donors. The outstanding performance of synthesized OE-CQDs under light exposure at wavelength (λ) of 280 nm has been ensured by the quantum yield value of 9.4% upon H2O2 generation. The combinatorial benefits of OE-CQDs with their authentic crystalline structure and oxygen enrichment, is expected to be enhancing the ORR activity through accelerating charge transfer, and optimizing oxygen diffusion. Consequently, our eco-friendly method holds considerable promise for creating highly efficient, metal-free photocatalysts for artificial H2O2 production.

Enhanced adsorption capacity of phosphoric acid-modified montmorillonite clay and ground coffee waste-derived carbon-based functional composite beads for the effective removal of methylene blue

Clays, valued for their versatility, serve as economical adsorbents. Recent studies show that physical, thermal, and chemical modifications can enhance their adsorption capacity. In this study, the synthesis of a functional bead comprising phosphoric acid-modified montmorillonite (PMMT) and coffee waste carbon (CWC) and its application for the efficient adsorption of methylene blue (MeB) dye is investigated. A highly flexible and low-cost phyllosilicate, montmorillonite clay, MMT was treated with phosphoric acid to enhance the ionic density, composited with CWC, resulting in improved surface properties thereafter was transformed into easily recoverable bead form through subsequent cross-linking steps. These functional composite beads were characterized using various characterization techniques. As a result, the existing tetrahedral sheets possessed by the MMT having weak bonds between the layers are improved in a way that they can allow molecule exchange for the efficient enhancement of the adsorption capacity of the composite material. Moreover, after the necessary modifications, the adsorbent was found to be mechanically stable, inhibiting secondary pollutions from the use in powder forms while allowing the interlayers favorable for not just cationic but also anionic exchange whilst increasing the specific surface area and pore volume. The surface area was enhanced to 9.93 m2 /g. Following this, maximum adsorption capacity of 489.9 mg/g was attained showing a superior removal efficiency for methylene blue dye (>80%). The adsorption equilibrium was analyzed using Freundlich and Langmuir models. The adsorption mechanism aligns with the Langmuir model which encompasses a monolayer adsorption. All in all, this study is anticipated to play a crucial role in the search for adsorbents with multiple functionalities and good structural stability during and after use.

Recycling of waste coffee grounds as a photothermal material modified with ZnCl2 for water purification

The aim of this study was to develop a photothermal material modified with carbonization and ZnCl2 impregnation and supported by polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) for water purification using the waste coffee grounds. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) characterization of the prepared material revealed that a significant surface modification was achieved due to the carbonization and ZnCl2 impregnation. X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD) pattern of the samples showed two broad peaks at 18.4° and 22.2°, this is due to the crystal planes of β-crystal phase structure, which indicates the existence of strong hydrogen bonds between the micro-structures and therefore less suspectable to chemical attack. Additionally, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) result suggests a slight mass reduction between the temperature range of 65–75 °C implying the thermal stability of the prepared material. The produced modified material had a photothermal conversion efficiency of 74% and could produce vapor at a rate of 1.12 kg/m2h under 980 W/m2 irradiation at 1 sun. A significant reduction in Cu2+ ion concentration (83%), turbidity (91%), total dissolved solids (TDS) (61%), microbial load (95.6%), and total hardness (41.2%) were achieved. Therefore, waste coffee grounds can be considered as a future eco-friendly and low-cost candidate for water purification.

Comparison of ground coffee and coffee puck by IR spectra

Classification of ground coffee and coffee puck samples was carried out using IR spectroscopy and multidimensional analysis. Using the principal component analysis, spectral absorption bands that explain the differences in the composition of ground coffee and coffee puck were identified. It is proposed to use this approach to assess valorization when using coffee waste.

Oxygen reduction reaction platinum group metal-free electrocatalysts derived from spent coffee grounds

The annual generation of coffee waste has overtaken 6 million metric tons, becoming a serious environmental problem. Herein, we report the fabrication of bimetallic electrocatalysts synthesized by 1) pyrolyzing spent coffee grounds (SCGs) at 400, 600, 800 and 1000 °C, 2) activating the as-obtained char with KOH and 3) functionalizing the activated carbon with iron(II) and manganese(II) phthalocyanine. The final electrocatalysts showed a high degree of amorphousness, defectivity (increasing with temperature) and high specific surface area (up to 1820 m2 g−1). In half-cell compartment (0.1 M KOH electrolyte), the top-notch material in terms of oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) activity and selectivity was CFeMn_600, which showed the same half-wave potential (E1/2) compared to Pt/C standard along with a lower peroxide production. These outstanding results could be attributed to a high surface area, a Fe-Mn synergy, and an abundance of C-N defects. The performance of CFeMn_600 as a cathode material in alkaline exchange membrane fuel cells (AEMFC) showed an open circuit voltage (OCV) of 0.890 V and power density of 30 mW cm−2. Notwithstanding, this research is one of few cases where a waste-derived electrocatalyst is tested in a real AEMFC, thus becoming a pioneer in the fuel cell study of waste-derived electrode materials.

Microwave Synthesis of Carbon Quantum Dots from Arabica Coffee Ground for Fluorescence Detection of Fe3+, Pb2+, and Cr3.

In this study, carbon quantum dots (CQDs), which were synthesized from arabica coffee ground-derived activated carbon, have been successfully employed as a fluorescence sensor to detect Fe3+ ions. CQDs were fabricated using microwave heating for 5-10 min, which emitted vibrant blue light at 455 nm when exposed to excitation at 365 nm. Dynamic light scattering (DLS) analysis revealed that the average size of CQDs was 10.12 nm with a quantum yield of 6.01%. Fluorescence detection was developed for sensing Fe3+, Pb2+, and Cr3+ ions. The addition of the three metal ions resulted in a decrease in the fluorescence (FL) intensity of the CQDs, with the addition of Fe3+ ions demonstrating a more significant decrease in FL compared to the addition of both Cr3+ and Pb2+ ions. The results indicated that the CQDs synthesized from activated carbon of arabica coffee waste performed as a selective fluorescent detector for Fe3+ ions, with a detection limit of 0.27 μM.

Towards a circular bioeconomy to produce methane by co-digestion of coffee and brewery waste using a mixture of anaerobic granular sludge and cattle manure as inoculum

Coffee processing wastes, such as solid (pulp and husk) and wastewater, co-digested with industrial brewery wastewater, serve as excellent substrates for generating methane in the anaerobic digestion process. This study compared methane production using different compositions of cattle manure (CM) and granular sludge from an Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket (UASB) reactor used in poultry wastewater treatment (GS). Four anaerobic batch reactors (500 mL) were assembled, A (50% CM and 50% GS), B (60% CM and 40% GS), C (70% CM and 30% of GS) and D (60% CM and 40% GS). Equal concentrations of substrates were added to all reactors: pulp and husk pretreated by hydrothermolysis (1 g L−1), coffee (10 g COD L−1) and brewery (1.5 g COD L−1) wastewaters. Assays A, B and C were supplemented with 2 g L−1 of yeast extract, except for assay D. The reactors were operated at 37 °C and pH 7.0. In assay B, the highest CH4 production of 759.15 ± 19.20 mL CH4 g−1 TS was observed, possibly favored by the synergistic interactions between cellulolytic bacteria Christensenellaceae_R-7_group and Methanosaeta archaea, as inferred by genes encoding enzymes related to acetoclastic methanogenesis (acetyl-CoA synthetase). Consequently, the electricity production potential of assay B (45614.08 kWh−1 year−1) could meet the energy demand of a farm producing coffee and beer, contributing to a positive energy balance concerning methane generation.

Effect of submicron pore sized waste coffee emesis biochar on glass–epoxy composite thermal interface material

Effect of submicron pore sized waste coffee emesis biochar on glass–epoxy composite thermal interface material

Box–Behnken Design to Optimize Herbicide Decomposition Using an Eco-Friendly Photocatalyst Based on Carbon Dots from Coffee Waste Combined with ZnBi2O4 and Its Antibacterial Application

Box–Behnken Design to Optimize Herbicide Decomposition Using an Eco-Friendly Photocatalyst Based on Carbon Dots from Coffee Waste Combined with ZnBi2O4 and Its Antibacterial Application

Parametric study of bio-char production from the co-pyrolysis of tire and coffee wastes via fixed bed reactor

Co-pyrolysis has become an eye-catching process for obtaining fuel and biochar and is attracting attention from both the scientific and industrial communities. One of the reasons for this is the wide variety of raw materials for the process itself and the possibility of obtaining attractive and high-quality products. The influence of three distinctive parameters has been studied on the co-pyrolysis reaction. These variables were temperature, reaction time, and plastic ratio. The results were analysed using Response Surface Methodology (RSM), and it was found that the optimum conditions to produce biochar from the co-pyrolysis of coffee and tire wastes were 359.441 °C, 10 minutes of reaction duration, and a plastic ratio of 97.8528 wt.%.

N–self–doped hierarchically porous carbon materials from waste coffee grounds for symmetric supercapacitor

N–self–doped hierarchically porous carbon materials from waste coffee grounds for symmetric supercapacitor

Liquid Hot Water (LHW) and Hydrothermal Carbonization (HTC) of Coffee Berry Waste: Kinetics, Catalysis, and Optimization for the Synthesis of Platform Chemicals

Colombia is the world’s leading producer of mildly washed arabica coffee and produces 12.6 million bags of green coffee, but at the same time, 784,000 tons of waste biomass are dumped in open fields, of which only 5% is recovered or used. The objective of this project was to evaluate the production of platform chemicals from these coffee wastes for sustainable resource management. To achieve this, biomass characterization was carried out using proximate analysis, ultimate analysis, and structural analysis. Hydrothermal valorization was carried out at a temperature range of 120–180 °C (LHW) and 180–260 °C (HTC) for one hour. The platform chemicals obtained were quantified by HPLC-RI and monitored by pH and conductivity, and the solid fraction was characterized by monitoring the functional groups in IR spectroscopy and elemental analysis. Hydrolysis processes were obtained at 150 °C, production of platform chemicals at 180 °C, and maximum concentration at 180 °C-4 h; over 200 °C, degradation of the products in the liquid fraction starts to take place. Homogeneous basic and acid catalysts were used to improve the yields of the reaction. The kinetics of the hydrolysis of lignocellulosic structures to sugars were also analyzed and described, and reaction orders of 1 (LHW), 3 (HTC), and their respective reaction rate equations were reported.

Performance Analysis of Waste Biomass Gasification and Renewable Hydrogen Production by Neural Network Algorithm

Abstract This study assesses renewable hydrogen production via gasification of residual biomass, using artificial neural networks (ANNs) for predictive modeling. The process uses residues from sugarcane and orange harvests, sewage sludge, corn byproducts, coffee remnants, eucalyptus remains, and urban waste. Simulation data from aspen plus® software predict hydrogen conversion from each biomass type, with a three-layer feedforward neural network algorithm used for model construction. The model showed high accuracy, with R2 values exceeding 0.9941 and 0.9931 in training and testing datasets, respectively. Performance metrics revealed a maximum higher heating value (HHV) of 18.1 MJ/kg for sewage sludge, the highest cold gas efficiency for urban and orange waste (82.2% and 80.6%), and the highest carbon conversion efficiency for sugarcane bagasse and orange residue (92.8% and 91.2%). Corn waste and sewage sludge yielded the highest hydrogen mole fractions (0.55 and 0.52). The system can reach relative exergy efficiencies from 24.4% for sugarcane straw residues to 42.6% for sugarcane bagasse. Rational exergy efficiencies reached from 23.7% (coffee waste) to 39.0% (sugarcane bagasse). This research highlights the potential of ANNs in forecasting hydrogen conversion and assessing the performance of gasification-based renewable hydrogen procedures using biomass wastes.

Eco-Friendly Coffee Waste-Based Carbon Dots Coupled to ZnBi-Layered Double Hydroxide Heterojunction: Enhanced Control of Interfacial Charge Transfer for Highly Efficient Visible-Light Catalytic Activity

Using a simple, low cost, and excellent efficient approach, carbon dots (CDs) were fabricated via a one-pot hydrothermal process of coffee waste. Amazingly, the combination of 2% CDs with ZnBi2O4 to form a new and excellent heterogeneous photocatalyst enabled the complete decomposition of 2, 4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2, 4-D) into CO2 and H2O. The findings of this study provide a new perspective on the utilization of agricultural waste for creating products of scientific and practical significance. More than 91% of 2, 4-D (initial concentration of 30 mg/L) was completely decomposed and dechlorinated using 1.0 g/L of CDs (2%)-ZnBi2O4 at pH 4.0 after 120 min of exposure to visible light (with k = 0.0178 min−1), and more than 86% of the decomposed 2, 4-D was mineralized into CO2 and H2O. There was no sign of catalyst deactivation after four cycles of reuse, demonstrating the durability and efficiency of CDs (2%)-ZnBi2O4. The significant improvement in the photocatalytic efficiency of CDs (2%)-ZnBi2O4 compared with that of bare CDs or ZnBi2O4 is due to the formation of defects at the interfaces of the heterojunction; therefore, the movement of photogenerated electrons at the interface between the two components is rapid. The mineralization of 2, 4-D by CDs (2%)-ZnBi2O4 upon exposure to visible light is induced mainly by the photogenerated holes, followed by O2•−, and finally OH• radicals.