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Every year, we waste millions of tons of used coffee grounds. Scientists have found a way to use them. They can remove a harmful chemical from water. This chemical is called bentazone. It is used in farming. It can damage plants and make people sick. Using coffee grounds would solve two problems. We would have less waste and less damage from bentazone.
News Reading in Levels
Beginner Level: Scientists Find New Use for Old Coffee Grounds
Do you like coffee? Many people drink it every day. But what happens to the used coffee grounds? Usually, they are thrown away. This creates a lot of waste. But now, scientists have found a way to use old coffee grounds.
They discovered that coffee grounds can remove a chemical called bentazone from water. Bentazone is a harmful chemical used in farming. It can damage plants and make people sick.
The scientists mixed zinc chloride with the used coffee grounds. This made the coffee grounds better at removing bentazone from water. They tested the water before and after using the coffee grounds. Before, the water was harmful to plants. After using the coffee grounds, the water was no longer harmful.
This is good news! Using coffee grounds can help solve two problems. We will have less waste from coffee grounds. And we can remove harmful chemicals from water. This will protect plants, animals, and people from getting sick.
Waste: Unwanted materials or substances that are left over.
Discovered: Found something that was not known before.
Chemical: A substance made of specific elements, used in science or industry.
Harmful: Causing damage or injury.
Protect: Keep safe from harm or injury.
Intermediate Level: Coffee Waste Could Be the Solution to a Major Environmental Issue
Every year, millions of tons of used coffee grounds end up as waste, contributing to environmental pollution. However, a team of researchers from Brazil has found a promising solution – utilizing these spent grounds to absorb bentazone, a commonly used herbicide in agriculture known for its harmful effects on the environment and human health.
The study, conducted at the Federal Technological University of Paraná (UTFPR), revealed that when zinc chloride was used to activate the carbon in spent coffee grounds, the resulting activated carbon demonstrated a remarkable 70% efficiency in removing bentazone from liquid solutions.
To evaluate the effectiveness of this method, the researchers tested the impact of bentazone-contaminated liquid on onion root tissues called meristems, which are crucial for plant growth and development. Before the adsorption process, the contaminated liquid caused significant damage to the meristems. However, after treatment with the activated carbon from coffee grounds, the treated liquid no longer exhibited toxicity, with results similar to those observed with distilled water.
Adsorption: The process of attracting and holding molecules or particles onto the surface of a solid material.
Meristems: Regions of actively dividing cells in plants, responsible for growth and development.
Toxicity: The degree to which a substance is harmful or poisonous.
Contaminated: Made impure or unclean by the introduction of a polluting or poisonous substance.
Promising: Showing potential for future success or development.
Native Level: Spent Coffee Grounds: A Potential Solution for Pesticide Pollution Woes
In a groundbreaking study, researchers from the Federal Technological University of Paraná (UTFPR) in Brazil have uncovered a novel and sustainable approach to address the pressing issue of pesticide contamination in water bodies. Their findings reveal that spent coffee grounds, a byproduct often discarded as waste, can effectively remove bentazone, a widely used herbicide in agriculture, from contaminated water sources.
The team’s innovative approach involved activating the carbon present in used coffee grounds by treating it with zinc chloride. Remarkably, this activated carbon demonstrated a remarkable 70% efficiency in adsorbing bentazone from liquid solutions containing the herbicide. To assess the efficacy of this method, the researchers conducted a series of tests on onion root meristems, which are regions of actively dividing cells essential for plant growth and development.
Prior to the adsorption process, the bentazone-contaminated liquid exhibited significant cytogenotoxic effects, causing substantial damage to the onion root meristems. However, after treatment with the activated carbon derived from spent coffee grounds, the resulting effluent no longer exhibited any toxic effects, with results comparable to those observed with distilled water.
These findings hold significant implications for both the environment and human health. Bentazone, while widely employed in agricultural practices, has been flagged by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for its potential to contaminate groundwater and drinking water sources, posing risks through inhalation, ingestion, or skin absorption.
Byproduct: A secondary or incidental product resulting from a process.
Adsorption: The adhesion of molecules or particles from a gas, liquid, or dissolved solid to a surface.
Cytogenotoxic: Causing damage or disruption to cells and their genetic material.
Effluent: Liquid waste or sewage discharged from a source.
Implications: Potential consequences or effects, especially of a significant nature.
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The Bottom Line
This research highlights a promising solution to tackle two major environmental challenges simultaneously. By repurposing spent coffee grounds, we can effectively mitigate the harmful effects of pesticides like bentazone on our water sources and ecosystems. Additionally, this innovative approach provides a sustainable means of reducing the waste generated from discarded coffee grounds. While further refinement and scaling are required, these findings offer hope for a cleaner and more sustainable future.
References
- Phys.org: Can used coffee grounds help clean up environmental toxins?
- Sprudge: Spent Coffee Grounds Can Be Used To Remove Harmful Herbicides From Water
