Brazilian researchers convert coffee waste into activated carbon to remove bentazone from soil
A team from the Federal University of Technology of Parana in Brazil developed a method that turns coffee beans and their waste into a substance capable of removing bentazone, a widely used and highly neurotoxic herbicide, from soil. The work appears in a journal focused on chemical technology and biotechnology.
Bentazone can trigger allergic reactions and irritation to the eyes, skin, and respiratory tract. Ingested, it may cause nausea, diarrhea, tremors, vomiting, and breathing difficulties. It is classified as a water hazard and releases toxic gases containing sulfur and nitrogen when it breaks down.
In the study, biotechnologists transformed coffee shop waste into charcoal and then activated it with a zinc chloride treatment. This activated carbon achieved about 70 percent efficiency in removing bentazone from the environment.
The activated carbon derived from coffee grounds also showed potential in addressing other water contaminants, expanding its utility beyond soil cleanup.
Global coffee consumption is substantial, with rough estimates suggesting about 9 million tons of coffee consumed each year. This consumption generates roughly 900 thousand tons of coffee grounds that could be repurposed for environmental remediation.
Earlier research indicated that waste from coffee shops might be connected to broader health research. While the main focus here is environmental cleanup, scientists note that coffee-derived materials are of interest in various biomedical investigations and could influence future studies on neurological health.