Scientists Found a New use for Leftover Coffee Grounds
Our fondness for coffee results in millions of tons of discarded coffee grounds annually. Scientists have been exploring methods to utilize them, and we now have another addition to the list: research demonstrates that old coffee grounds can absorb bentazone, an agricultural herbicide.
If the technology can be advanced, it would address two environmental issues simultaneously: the disposal of coffee grounds and the harm inflicted by agricultural herbicides on wildlife and the surrounding ecosystems.
UTFPR Researchers Find Coffee Grounds Effective in Herbicide Removal
Researchers from the Federal Technological University of Paraná (UTFPR) in Brazil discovered that when zinc chloride was utilized to activate the carbon in discarded coffee grounds, this carbon displayed a 70 percent efficacy in eliminating bentazone, the predominant herbicide used in agriculture.
The researchers conducted experiments with bentazone dissolved in liquid, both before and after treating it with activated carbon derived from used coffee grounds. They examined its impact on onion root tissues known as meristems.
These tissues serve as growth points for plants, so any damage to them disrupts the plant’s development.
In their published paper, the researchers noted, “Before adsorption, the effluent caused significant cytogenotoxicity to onion root meristems.” However, “After adsorption, the generated effluent no longer caused toxicity to the test system, and the results obtained were similar to the control with distilled water.”
EPA Concerns: Bentazone Contamination and Health Risks
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in the US has raised concerns about potentially harmful levels of bentazone in groundwater and drinking water. It is also known to pose risks to human health through inhalation, ingestion, or skin absorption.
Regarding old coffee grounds, their disposal, whether into water bodies or landfills, is environmentally detrimental. Nevertheless, some of the chemical reactions they instigate have proven useful in decontamination procedures.
While these findings are preliminary, they are promising, indicating that carbon derived from used coffee grounds effectively treats water contaminated with bentazone. The next steps will involve refining and scaling up these processes.
“The researchers emphasize the significant relevance of this study in both industrial and environmental contexts due to the health and environmental issues associated with the unregulated use of these substances.”
Diverse Repurposing of Coffee Grounds Offers Reassurance
As scientists continue to discover various ways to repurpose old coffee grounds, whether by enhancing food nutrition or potentially mitigating dementia risks, it offers some reassurance regarding our coffee consumption habits.
While the precise mechanism of the absorption process remains unclear, the study’s findings are expected to contribute to future research in this field. Although there are several methods available for removing pesticide pollutants from the environment, considerable work remains to be done.
“The contamination of groundwater and surface water currently stands as one of the most urgent environmental challenges. Preventing water pollution is paramount in this century,” note the researchers.
Read the original article on: Science Alert
Read more: Used Coffee Grounds Enhance the Strength of Concrete by 30%
