Valorisation of Spent Coffee Grounds for Bioenergy Purposes

Jana Larbi

Bachelor's thesis

Abstract:

The global effort to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals has led to a focus on sustainable renewable energy resources, as well as efforts to mitigate climate change and environmental pollution. Spent coffee grounds (SCGs) are a significant waste stream generated by the coffee industry worldwide, prompting increased interest in valorising SCGs to extract value from this abundant waste material. One promising step for this valorisation is the conversion of SCGs into bioenergy, which can contribute to renewable energy targets and simultaneously reduce waste disposal costs and environmental impact. This review was done using articles found in web databases, EBSCO Discovery Service, Google Scholar, and Web of Knowledge, and also includes a case study of successful SCGs valorisation. The study aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the valorisation processes, technologies, and the economic and environmental considerations associated with SCGs utilisation. It suggests that one potential solution to multiple environmental challenges lies in the conversion of waste materials into valuable sources for bioenergy production. The research assesses the potential of abundant spent coffee grounds as a resource for bioenergy production, although it also acknowledges several challenges that hinder the scaling up of SCGs valorisation, such as feedstock availability, collection logistics, and the optimisation of technologies. Ultimately, it provides a comprehensive review of the valorisation potential for spent coffee grounds for bioenergy purposes and offers directions for future research.

Keywords

spent coffee grounds, bioenergy, valorisation, sustainable development, renewable energy, waste management

Jazyk práce: English

Datum vytvoření / odevzdání či podání práce: 19. 4. 2024

Obhajoba závěrečné práce

• Obhajoba proběhla 27. 5. 2024
• Vedúci: doc. Ing. Hynek Roubík, Ph.D.
• Oponent: Eduardo Duque Dussan, Ing.

Czech University of Life Sciences Prague

Faculty of Tropical AgriSciences

Bachelor programme:
International Cooperation in Agricultural and Rural Development