\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 said Dr. Haif Aljomard, lead inventor of the newly patented CO\u2082 capture technology.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Low-Res_Picture2.jpg\" "\\"Scientists")
Coffee waste blended with plastic waste is engineered into activated carbon for climate solutions. Credit: Haif Aljomard<\/p>\n
Dual-purpose technology<\/p>\n
The environmental benefits of this invention are huge. <\/p>\n
Carbon dioxide<\/a> (CO2\u200b) is a primary greenhouse gas that drives global warming and endangers both the environment and human health.\u00a0<\/p>\n Hence, there is an urgent need for effective and sustainable technologies to capture and reduce CO2\u200b emissions from major sources like fossil fuel combustion and industrial processes.<\/p>\n The newly patented method does so while also championing sustainable waste management.<\/p>\n Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is a common plastic, with more than 82 million metric tons<\/a> manufactured worldwide each year for products like bottles and clothing. PET stands out as a colossal source of plastic waste.<\/p>\n On the other side, global coffee consumption results in a monumental 10 b<\/a>illion kilograms of waste yearly \u2014 almost all of it pollutes landfills and emits greenhouse gases.\u00a0<\/p>\n Interestingly, the innovation tackles both waste streams together.<\/p>\n The core of the patented technology lies in the synthesis of high-performance activated carbon from these waste materials<\/p>\n Researchers combine PET plastic and coffee waste with potassium hydroxide (KOH) to create a material highly effective at capturing CO2\u200b.<\/p>\n The process depends on co-pyrolysis \u2014 a controlled heating process \u2014 of the spent coffee<\/a> grounds and PET plastic waste, conducted at an eco-friendly temperature of 600\u00b0C. Potassium hydroxide serves as the essential activating agent in this transformation.\u00a0<\/p>\n The synthesized activated carbon acts as a medium for CO2\u200b to be adsorbed onto its surface.<\/p>\n \u201cThis invention repurposes two abundant waste streams\u2014coffee and plastic\u2014into a high-performance adsorbent,\u201d Aljomard said.\u00a0<\/p>\n \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 Aljomard added.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Sustainable solution for industries<\/p>\n The new method successfully produces activated carbon with an impressive CO2 adsorption capacity.\u00a0<\/p>\n This high performance makes the material highly suitable for diverse industrial applications that require efficient carbon capture<\/a>.<\/p>\n Furthermore, the low production costs, attributed to the affordability and availability of the raw materials, enhance its economic viability.<\/p>\n \u201cTransforming spent coffee grounds and plastic waste into high-quality activated carbon offers economic, social, and environmental benefits,\u201d said Professor Chaouki Ghenai, co-inventor and a specialist in Sustainable and Renewable Energy at the university.\u00a0<\/p>\n