Coffee Grounds Biochar Strengthens Concrete Almost 30 Percent

Here is an article about an interesting study that substituted biochar made from coffee grounds in place of sand when making concrete, and the result was an almost 30 percent increase in compressive strength. https://www.engadget.com/scientists-strengthen-concrete-by-30-percent-with-used-coffee-grounds-221643441.html

Here is a direct link to the research paper: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0959652623023636

For the experimenters out there who do both biochar and concrete stuff, might be worth it to mix up a batch or two and see how it actually performs IRL.

As they say, "cool beans."

Nice!

I wonder if the leftover caffeine gives it more stamina.

What an interesting find. Imagine foundations that never sleep.

Trust scientists to come up with a new name- SCG, spent coffee grounds! The grounds need to be heated in the process and replaces 15% of the sand. There are 75000 tonnes of scg available in Australia

First off, "The disposal of organic waste poses an environmental challenge as it emits large amounts of greenhouse gases including methane and carbon dioxide" -- that doesn't sound like "an environmental challenge" in need of vast research. That sounds like a simple compost problem.

"Though the problems of the world are increasingly complex, the solutions remain embarrassingly simple." ― Mollison

But anyway, I do like what they came up with.

Makes me wonder about toasting some up and using it as an aircrete additive!

This is a very valuable experiment when considered in the context of the world's dwindling sand reserves. Sand is used at an astonishingly high rate for things like concrete, glass, and other building materials; unfortunately desert sand is unsuitable for these purposes. Very impressive to hear that it fairs even better than traditional concrete in at least one metric, exciting news!

Eric S.

Phil Stevens wrote:What an interesting find. Imagine foundations that never sleep.

That would be a fabulous thing. For rust never sleeps either -- considering the state of rebar in bridges everywhere.

K, the normal  process of composting gives off methane and carbon dioxide.

This is an example of where we need to be going.
John S
PDX OR