{"id":30184,"date":"2025-10-06T18:39:24","date_gmt":"2025-10-06T18:39:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/?p=30184"},"modified":"2025-10-10T19:18:31","modified_gmt":"2025-10-10T19:18:31","slug":"new-carbon-capture-technology-uses-coffee-grounds-and-plastic-waste","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/new-carbon-capture-technology-uses-coffee-grounds-and-plastic-waste\/","title":{"rendered":"New Carbon Capture Technology Uses Coffee Grounds and Plastic Waste"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-blockquote uagb-block-e7eb3fc3 uagb-blockquote__skin-border uagb-blockquote__stack-img-none\"><blockquote class=\"uagb-blockquote\"><div class=\"uagb-blockquote__content\">Researchers at the University of Sharjah have patented an innovative technology that converts spent coffee grounds and plastic waste into a powerful CO\u2082 adsorbent, offering a dual benefit of reducing emissions and repurposing waste.<\/div><footer><div class=\"uagb-blockquote__author-wrap uagb-blockquote__author-at-left\"><\/div><\/footer><\/blockquote><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-content-justification-space-between is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-0dfbf163 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\"><div style=\"font-size:16px;\" class=\"has-text-align-left wp-block-post-author\"><div class=\"wp-block-post-author__content\"><p class=\"wp-block-post-author__name\">The University Network<\/p><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-social-share uagb-social-share__outer-wrap uagb-social-share__layout-horizontal uagb-block-ee584a31\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-social-share-child uagb-ss-repeater uagb-ss__wrapper uagb-block-ec619ce7\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__link\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\" 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48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-social-share-child uagb-ss-repeater uagb-ss__wrapper uagb-block-1d136f14\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__link\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/shareArticle?url=\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"linkedin\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__source-wrap\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__source-icon\"><svg xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 448 512\"><path d=\"M416 32H31.9C14.3 32 0 46.5 0 64.3v383.4C0 465.5 14.3 480 31.9 480H416c17.6 0 32-14.5 32-32.3V64.3c0-17.8-14.4-32.3-32-32.3zM135.4 416H69V202.2h66.5V416zm-33.2-243c-21.3 0-38.5-17.3-38.5-38.5S80.9 96 102.2 96c21.2 0 38.5 17.3 38.5 38.5 0 21.3-17.2 38.5-38.5 38.5zm282.1 243h-66.4V312c0-24.8-.5-56.7-34.5-56.7-34.6 0-39.9 27-39.9 54.9V416h-66.4V202.2h63.7v29.2h.9c8.9-16.8 30.6-34.5 62.9-34.5 67.2 0 79.7 44.3 79.7 101.9V416z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Researchers at the University of Sharjah have patented a groundbreaking technology that captures carbon dioxide emissions from industrial processes, potentially providing a significant advancement in the fight against climate change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/patents.google.com\/patent\/US12391556B1\/en\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">patent<\/a>, filed in March 2025 and published in August, details a unique method that repurposes spent coffee grounds (SCG) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET), a common plastic used in packaging, along with potassium hydroxide (KOH), to create a robust material for CO\u2082 adsorption. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This innovative approach addresses environmental pollution and the substantial CO\u2082 emissions from industrial sources.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWhat begins with a Starbucks coffee cup and a discarded plastic water bottle can become a powerful tool in the fight against climate change through the production of activated carbon,\u201d Haif Aljomard, the lead inventor of the patented CO\u2082 capture technology, said in a news release.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Globally, an estimated 8 million tons of spent coffee grounds are discarded annually, predominantly ending up in landfills where they release methane and other greenhouse gases. By reutilizing this waste, the new method not only captures CO\u2082 but also supports sustainable waste management.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>PET, a widely used material in consumer packaging, becomes part of this eco-friendly solution in combination with KOH, enhancing the activated carbon\u2019s ability to trap carbon. This advancement is a significant milestone in developing eco-friendly technologies aimed at mitigating climate change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Aljomard explained that the innovation involves producing activated carbon through the co-pyrolysis of spent coffee grounds and polyethylene terephthalate plastic waste at an environmentally friendly activation temperature of 600\u00b0C.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThis invention repurposes two abundant waste streams \u2014 coffee and plastic \u2014 into a high-performance adsorbent,\u201d she added. \u201cThe resulting activated carbon shows strong potential for capturing CO\u2082 from fossil fuel-based energy systems, contributing to the reduction of air pollution.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:22px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"408\" height=\"700\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Reactor.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-30211\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Reactor.jpg 408w, https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Reactor-175x300.jpg 175w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 408px) 100vw, 408px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><em>Caption:<\/em> Reactor driving the carbonization of coffee and plastic waste into high-performance carbon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><em>Credit: <\/em>University of Sharjah<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:2px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The inventors report that their method yields activated carbon with high CO\u2082 adsorption capacity, making it suitable for various industrial applications. They underscore the low production costs, thanks to the affordable and readily available raw materials.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThis invention exemplifies circular economy principles by integrating waste streams for dual valorization and upcycling into valuable products,\u201d added co-inventor Chaouki Ghenai, a professor in the Sustainable and Renewable Energy Engineering Department at the University of Sharjah. &#8220;Transforming spent coffee grounds and plastic waste into high-quality activated carbon offers economic, social, and environmental benefits.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The potential applications of this technology span multiple industrial sectors, including water and air treatment, food processing, chemical engineering and energy systems. The researchers believe it could significantly reduce environmental impact across various domains.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As the patent transitions from academia to industrial deployment, the researchers are optimistic about its practical capabilities. They envision its use in gas and water purification, pollutant removal, emission control and even energy sector applications, such as natural gas purification and flue gas cleaning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThere is an urgent need for effective and sustainable technologies to capture and reduce CO\u2082 emissions from sources such as fossil fuel combustion, industrial processes, and power generation,\u201d concluded the researchers in their patent document, underscoring the pressing necessity of such innovative solutions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:16px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Source:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eurekalert.org\/news-releases\/1100840\" title=\"\">University of Sharjah<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Researchers at the University of Sharjah have patented a groundbreaking technology that captures carbon dioxide emissions from industrial processes, potentially providing a significant advancement in the fight against climate change. The patent, filed in March 2025 and published in August, details a unique method that repurposes spent coffee grounds (SCG) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET), a [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"single-no-separators","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[11,10],"tags":[171],"class_list":["post-30184","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-climate-and-environment","category-sustainability","tag-university-of-sharjah"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":false,"thumbnail":false,"medium":false,"medium_large":false,"large":false,"1536x1536":false,"2048x2048":false},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"The University Network","author_link":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/author\/funky_junkie\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"Researchers at the University of Sharjah have patented a groundbreaking technology that captures carbon dioxide emissions from industrial processes, potentially providing a significant advancement in the fight against climate change. The patent, filed in March 2025 and published in August, details a unique method that repurposes spent coffee grounds (SCG) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET), a&hellip;","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30184","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=30184"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30184\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":30510,"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30184\/revisions\/30510"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=30184"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=30184"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=30184"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}