Scientists in New Zealand have tested a pavement made of concrete with the addition of biochar from coffee grounds. This was announced on the website of RMIT University. We chose the main thing.
What happened
In New Zealand, scientists from the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) conducted the world's first real tests of a pavement made of innovative concrete with the addition of biochar from coffee grounds.
This material turned out to be 30% stronger than ordinary concrete, and also allows reducing the use of cement and sand, which makes it more environmentally friendly.
How it was created
Scientists from RMIT have developed a method to convert coffee waste into biochar, which is then added to concrete. This process takes place at a temperature of 350°C without access to oxygen. Thanks to this, the concrete becomes stronger, and the use of sand can be reduced by 15%. Biochar has a higher density, which improves the overall quality of the concrete.
What's Next
Researchers will continue to study the characteristics of the test pavement, to expand the use of such concrete in the future. They also plan to reduce the cement content of concrete by 10% without losing strength.
In addition, using coffee grounds to produce concrete will help reduce emissions of the greenhouse gas methane, which is produced when organic waste decomposes in landfills.