Room: Amazon
Date: Wednesday, 20 May 2026
Time: 15:00 - 16:00 CEST
Session code 6BO.8
Biochar and carbon-based materials
Spent Coffee Ground Biochar: Synthesis, Activation and Application for Arsenic Adsorption
Short Introductive summary
This study explores the sustainable valorization of spent coffee grounds (SCG) through their conversion into functional biochar for arsenic removal from water. SCG biochar was synthesized via rotary kiln pyrolysis and subjected to different chemical activation strategies, including phosphoric acid (H3PO4), iron chloride (FeCl3), and titanium dioxide (TiO2) sol-gel functionalization. The TiO2-activated SCG biochar achieved the highest arsenic removal efficiency (˜40%), representing a ten-fold improvement compared to non-functionalized biochar. Characterization and adsorption studies confirmed that chemisorption dominated the process, fitting well to Freundlich isotherms and pseudo-second-order kinetics. The results demonstrate the potential of coffee waste as a low-cost precursor for high-performance adsorbents, supporting circular economy principles and sustainable water treatment solutions.
Presenter
Kelly DUSSAN MEDINA
São Paulo State University, Chemical Engineering Dpt., BRAZIL
Presenter's biography
Prof. Kelly received her PhD in Biotechnology from EEL-USP-Brazil in 2013. Currently, she is the Associate Professor at Department ofChemical Engineering, IQ-UNESP-Brazil. Her main areas of research interest are lignocellulosic materials, simulation process and green chemicals.
Biographies and Short introductive summaries are supplied directly by presenters and are published here unedited
Co-authors:
M.G. Santos, São Paulo State University, Araraquara, BRAZIL
M. Afrooz, University of Saskatchewan, CANADA
K. McPhedran, University of Saskatchewan, CANADA
K.J. Dussán, São Paulo State University, Araraquara, BRAZIL
Session reference: 6BO.8.3