| About this Abstract |
| Meeting |
2025 TMS Annual Meeting & Exhibition
|
| Symposium
|
Biological Materials Science
|
| Presentation Title |
A-5: Deriving Biodegradable Polymers From Spent Coffee Grounds |
| Author(s) |
Cristina Gandolfo, Richard Alan Gross , Josh Draper |
| On-Site Speaker (Planned) |
Cristina Gandolfo |
| Abstract Scope |
Approximately 8 million tons of coffee is globally-traded each year. About 6 million tons per year of spent coffee grounds (SCGs) are discarded predominantly in landfill environments that are dry and entomb this valuable resource. This presentation will describe the use of SCGs as fillers in compostable plastics. Target bioplastic matrices include poly(lactic acid), PLA, and polyhydroxyalkanoates, PHAs. To increase compatibility between the SCGs and the matrices, compatible polymers in the biopolymer matrix have been grafted from the surface of SCGs. Blends have been prepared by melt mixing with variable contents of the modified SCGs. Characterization includes material thermal stability, phase transition temperatures, crystallinity and tensile. The project is an interdisciplinary collaboration of material science, chemistry and architecture, developing sustainable chemical and material processes that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and transition from petroleum to readily renewable feedstocks. The materials will also be used to design acoustic paneling (micro slit resonators). |
| Proceedings Inclusion? |
Planned: |