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Researchers have found an innovative application for leftover coffee grounds, transforming a common waste product into a promising material for construction.
Scientists have just revealed a surprising fate for leftovers from coffee powder that promise to revolutionize the construction: the possibility of building skyscrapers with more sustainable and resistant materials.
This innovative discovery goes far beyond reducing waste, harnessing the potential of waste to build increasingly greener and more efficient structures.
Researchers at Australia discovered an innovative way to produce concrete that is 30% stronger using carbonized coffee powder in the mix.
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The technique, in addition to being promising for civil construction, can solve two major environmental problems: the inadequate disposal of organic waste and the intensive extraction of natural sand.
The problem of coffee waste
Every year, the world generates 10 million tons of coffee waste. Much of this material is disposed of in landfills, where it releases greenhouse gases such as methane and carbon dioxide. These gases contribute significantly to global warming.
According to Rajeev Roychand, an engineer at the University RMIT, the inadequate disposal of organic waste is one of the main environmental challenges today.
"The disposal of organic waste poses an environmental challenge as it emits large amounts of greenhouse gases, including methane and carbon dioxide, which contribute to climate change.”, explains Roychand.
The growing demand for sustainable concrete
The construction industry, which is constantly expanding globally, requires increasing quantities of concrete. This generates an intense demand for natural sand, often extracted from rivers. This process, in addition to being unsustainable, causes significant environmental damage.
Jie Li, also an engineer at RMIT, highlights the challenges of this scenario: “There are critical and long-standing challenges in maintaining a sustainable supply of sand due to the finite nature of the resource and the environmental impacts of sand mining. With a circular economy approach, we could keep organic waste out of landfills and also better preserve our natural resources, such as sand."
The innovative technique: pyrolysis of coffee powder
To make coffee residue viable for making concrete, researchers turned to pyrolysis, a process of heating it to high temperatures in an oxygen-free environment.
This method transforms waste into biochar, a porous, carbon-rich material that can be incorporated into the cement matrix without compromising its strength.
During the tests, engineers heated coffee grounds to 350°C. At higher temperatures, such as 500°C, the resulting biochar particles were less effective.
Biochar is able to form chemical bonds with cement, resulting in stronger and more sustainable concrete.
Despite the encouraging initial results, the researchers emphasize that it is still necessary to evaluate the material's long-term durability.
Tests such as freeze-thaw cycles, water resistance and abrasion are ongoing.
Future perspectives
In addition to coffee, the RMIT team is working on producing biochar from other organic waste, such as wood, food scraps and waste agricultural.
Engineer Shannon Kilmartin-Lynch, a member of the research, reinforces the commitment to sustainability:
"Our research is in the early stages, but these exciting findings offer an innovative way to significantly reduce the amount of organic waste going to landfill."
Inspired by indigenous perspectives, Kilmartin-Lynch believes in the need to create sustainable lifecycles for all materials. “Ensuring there is a sustainable lifecycle for all materials and preventing things from going to landfill minimizes the impact on the environment."
Environmental and social impact
The idea of reusing organic waste as an alternative in construction represents an important step towards the circular economy. In addition to helping reduce the amount of waste in landfills, the solution promises to alleviate pressure on finite natural resources, such as sand.
With the global construction market growing rapidly, alternatives like biochar could set new standards in sustainability.
While they await full validation of the durability of coffee-enriched concrete, researchers are already envisioning a future where technical innovation and environmental responsibility go hand in hand.
