Exploring Spent Coffee Grounds: Comprehensive Morphological Analysis and Chemical Characterization for Potential Uses
The agroindustry generates substantial quantities of byproducts, particularly in coffee production, which yields significant waste, most notably spent coffee grounds (SCGs). This study explores the potential of SCGs as a versatile resource for applications in both food and nonfood sectors. A compreh...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2024-12-01
|
| Series: | Molecules |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/29/24/5866 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1850238423072243712 |
|---|---|
| author | Robin Zuluaga Catalina Gómez Hoyos Jorge Velásquez-Cock Lina Vélez-Acosta Isabela Palacio Valencia Javier Augusto Rodríguez Torres Piedad Gañán Rojo |
| author_facet | Robin Zuluaga Catalina Gómez Hoyos Jorge Velásquez-Cock Lina Vélez-Acosta Isabela Palacio Valencia Javier Augusto Rodríguez Torres Piedad Gañán Rojo |
| author_sort | Robin Zuluaga |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The agroindustry generates substantial quantities of byproducts, particularly in coffee production, which yields significant waste, most notably spent coffee grounds (SCGs). This study explores the potential of SCGs as a versatile resource for applications in both food and nonfood sectors. A comprehensive chemical analysis revealed that SCGs consist of 30.2 wt.% cellulose, 25 wt.% hemicellulose, and 12 wt.% lignin. Morphological characterization was performed using field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM). Additional analyses included attenuated total reflectance Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). ATR-FTIR identified key polysaccharides and oils, whereas TGA offered insights into the thermal degradation behavior of SCGs, confirming the presence of typical plant cell wall components. X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns revealed low crystallinity, consistent with SCGs’ amorphous structure. Mineral content was assessed using inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES) and atomic absorption spectrophotometry (AAS). The results showed that mineral concentrations in SCGs (per 0.01 kg) were within recommended daily intake limits, confirming their safety for potential human consumption. These findings establish SCGs as a valuable lignocellulosic biomass with applications in composite materials. Additionally, it can serve as an organic soil amendment after fermentation to prevent stress on plants. This approach supports effective waste management and advances resource sustainability practices in the agro-industrial sector. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-ad28dd383deb4ce89abb284ade81889d |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 1420-3049 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Molecules |
| spelling | doaj-art-ad28dd383deb4ce89abb284ade81889d2025-08-20T02:01:28ZengMDPI AGMolecules1420-30492024-12-012924586610.3390/molecules29245866Exploring Spent Coffee Grounds: Comprehensive Morphological Analysis and Chemical Characterization for Potential UsesRobin Zuluaga0Catalina Gómez Hoyos1Jorge Velásquez-Cock2Lina Vélez-Acosta3Isabela Palacio Valencia4Javier Augusto Rodríguez Torres5Piedad Gañán Rojo6Facultad de Ingeniería Agroindustrial, Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana, Circular 1 N 70-01, Medellín 050031, ColombiaFacultad de Ingeniería Agroindustrial, Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana, Circular 1 N 70-01, Medellín 050031, ColombiaFacultad de Ingeniería Agroindustrial, Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana, Circular 1 N 70-01, Medellín 050031, ColombiaFacultad de Ingeniería Agroindustrial, Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana, Circular 1 N 70-01, Medellín 050031, ColombiaFacultad de Ingeniería Agroindustrial, Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana, Circular 1 N 70-01, Medellín 050031, ColombiaFacultad de Ingeniería Agroindustrial, Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana, Circular 1 N 70-01, Medellín 050031, ColombiaFacultad de Ingeniería Química, Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana, Circular 1 N 70-01, Medellín 050031, ColombiaThe agroindustry generates substantial quantities of byproducts, particularly in coffee production, which yields significant waste, most notably spent coffee grounds (SCGs). This study explores the potential of SCGs as a versatile resource for applications in both food and nonfood sectors. A comprehensive chemical analysis revealed that SCGs consist of 30.2 wt.% cellulose, 25 wt.% hemicellulose, and 12 wt.% lignin. Morphological characterization was performed using field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM). Additional analyses included attenuated total reflectance Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). ATR-FTIR identified key polysaccharides and oils, whereas TGA offered insights into the thermal degradation behavior of SCGs, confirming the presence of typical plant cell wall components. X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns revealed low crystallinity, consistent with SCGs’ amorphous structure. Mineral content was assessed using inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES) and atomic absorption spectrophotometry (AAS). The results showed that mineral concentrations in SCGs (per 0.01 kg) were within recommended daily intake limits, confirming their safety for potential human consumption. These findings establish SCGs as a valuable lignocellulosic biomass with applications in composite materials. Additionally, it can serve as an organic soil amendment after fermentation to prevent stress on plants. This approach supports effective waste management and advances resource sustainability practices in the agro-industrial sector.https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/29/24/5866spent coffee groundpotential usesmorphological analysischemical compositioncoffee |
| spellingShingle | Robin Zuluaga Catalina Gómez Hoyos Jorge Velásquez-Cock Lina Vélez-Acosta Isabela Palacio Valencia Javier Augusto Rodríguez Torres Piedad Gañán Rojo Exploring Spent Coffee Grounds: Comprehensive Morphological Analysis and Chemical Characterization for Potential Uses Molecules spent coffee ground potential uses morphological analysis chemical composition coffee |
| title | Exploring Spent Coffee Grounds: Comprehensive Morphological Analysis and Chemical Characterization for Potential Uses |
| title_full | Exploring Spent Coffee Grounds: Comprehensive Morphological Analysis and Chemical Characterization for Potential Uses |
| title_fullStr | Exploring Spent Coffee Grounds: Comprehensive Morphological Analysis and Chemical Characterization for Potential Uses |
| title_full_unstemmed | Exploring Spent Coffee Grounds: Comprehensive Morphological Analysis and Chemical Characterization for Potential Uses |
| title_short | Exploring Spent Coffee Grounds: Comprehensive Morphological Analysis and Chemical Characterization for Potential Uses |
| title_sort | exploring spent coffee grounds comprehensive morphological analysis and chemical characterization for potential uses |
| topic | spent coffee ground potential uses morphological analysis chemical composition coffee |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/29/24/5866 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT robinzuluaga exploringspentcoffeegroundscomprehensivemorphologicalanalysisandchemicalcharacterizationforpotentialuses AT catalinagomezhoyos exploringspentcoffeegroundscomprehensivemorphologicalanalysisandchemicalcharacterizationforpotentialuses AT jorgevelasquezcock exploringspentcoffeegroundscomprehensivemorphologicalanalysisandchemicalcharacterizationforpotentialuses AT linavelezacosta exploringspentcoffeegroundscomprehensivemorphologicalanalysisandchemicalcharacterizationforpotentialuses AT isabelapalaciovalencia exploringspentcoffeegroundscomprehensivemorphologicalanalysisandchemicalcharacterizationforpotentialuses AT javieraugustorodrigueztorres exploringspentcoffeegroundscomprehensivemorphologicalanalysisandchemicalcharacterizationforpotentialuses AT piedadgananrojo exploringspentcoffeegroundscomprehensivemorphologicalanalysisandchemicalcharacterizationforpotentialuses |