Concrete solution: Coffee grounds boost strength by 30%
Scientists have examined the most underestimated waste produced daily in tonnes worldwide. Their research has shown, among other things, that coffee grounds strengthen plants and concrete.
Coffee grounds seem to be the most underestimated waste. Plant enthusiasts have been fertilising flowers, shrubs, and vegetables in the garden with them for years. Their rich nutrients, such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, have long been noted. In smaller amounts, they also provide magnesium, calcium, iron, and zinc, which benefit plant growth. Forums have also featured recipes for body scrubs. They have also been sprinkled on pavements in winter. Scientists have now found another use for coffee waste.
Coffee grounds bond well with cement and improve concrete structure
Australian scientists have discovered that coffee grounds have enormous potential, particularly in construction. They have proved that coffee waste can be processed to significantly increase the strength of concrete by 30 percent. This is indicated by research from RMIT University in Melbourne, published in the scientific journal Journal of Cleaner Production.
Strengthening concrete is based on the technology of processing coffee grounds through pyrolysis. This energy-efficient process involves heating them to 350 degrees Celsius without oxygen, which minimises carbon dioxide emissions. Dr Shannon Kilmartin-Lynch from the RMIT team, cited by The Guardian, notes that such actions can also reduce coffee waste in capsule form.
Scientists are looking for more uses for coffee grounds
When transformed into biochar (a substance similar to charcoal), coffee grounds can partially replace sand in concrete. Scientists also emphasise that the pyrolysis process used in this method is energy efficient. The researchers also reported that the grounds become porous due to such reutilisation, which promotes bonding with cement, thus improving the concrete structure.
Although technologies using coffee waste in construction are in the early stages, scientists plan further tests. They are already collaborating with local authorities on the practical application of this method in infrastructure, such as building pavements. Transforming coffee grounds into construction material reduces waste in landfills and suggests the potential production of 25,000 tonnes of eco-friendly concrete annually if all coffee grounds in Australia are processed.
