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Spent coffee ground characterization, pelletization test and emissions assessment in the combustion process
A Colantoni1, E Paris2, L Bianchini3
1Department of Agriculture and Forestry Science (UNITUS-DAFNE), Tuscia University, Viterbo, Italy. colantoni@unitus.it.
Scientific Reports
|March 5, 2021
Summary
Spent coffee grounds (SCG) are a valuable biomass resource. This study characterizes SCG, confirming its suitability for producing high-quality coffee pellets for thermal energy systems.
Area of Science:
- Waste Management
- Renewable Energy
- Biomass Characterization
Background:
- Industrialization and energy demands drive fossil fuel use, causing pollution.
- Agro-industrial waste, including coffee residues, can be converted into thermal and electrical energy.
- Spent coffee grounds (SCG) are a significant, underutilized coffee industry residue.
Purpose of the Study:
- To comprehensively characterize coffee waste, specifically SCG, for energy applications.
- To analyze physical and chemical properties relevant to energy production.
- To quantify the impact of SCG properties on energy generation processes.
Main Methods:
- Detailed physical and chemical analyses of coffee waste.
- Evaluation of quality indexes and their interrelationships.
- Combustion tests in an 80kWth boiler to characterize emissions.
Main Results:
- SCG exhibits excellent properties as biomass, including high calorific value and low ash content.
- Production of 98% coffee pellets from SCG, suitable for thermal conversion.
- Characterization of emissions from SCG combustion without abatement filters.
Conclusions:
- SCG is a highly suitable raw material for biomass energy production.
- Coffee pellets derived from SCG offer a viable solution for thermal energy systems.
- The study provides tools for qualifying and quantifying SCG's energy potential.
