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https://www.theguardian.com/science/2023/aug/23/full-of-beans-scientists-use-processed-coffee-grounds-to-make-stronger-concrete>
"In an idea that fittingly arose over a cup of coffee, researchers have devised
a technique to recycle used coffee grounds to make stronger concrete.
Engineers at RMIT University say they have developed a way to make concrete
nearly 30% stronger by incorporating processed coffee grounds into the
material.
The researchers have converted waste coffee grounds into biochar, a lightweight
residue similar to charcoal, and used that biochar to replace a portion of the
sand required to make concrete.
The idea arose from a desire to minimise coffee waste within the workplace,
said study co-lead Dr Shannon Kilmartin-Lynch, a vice-chancellor’s Indigenous
postdoctoral research fellow at RMIT.
“There was a lot of ground coffee and coffee pods being discarded,” he said.
“[We wanted] to see if we could transform those spent coffee grounds into a
more valuable sort of material.”
The researchers are now collaborating with local councils on future
infrastructure projects such as the construction of walkways and pavements.
The technique could be environmentally beneficial if it can reduce the amount
of coffee waste going to landfill, as well as the demand for natural sand used
in the construction industry, the engineers say."
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*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
