Spent coffee grounds valuation as a sustainable feedstock for polyethylene furanoate production

• Grant number: 23/08411-1
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Research Partnership for Technological Innovation - PITE
• Start date: November 01, 2023
• End date: October 31, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Chemical Engineering - Chemical Technology
• Principal Investigator: João Paulo Alves Silva
• Grantee: João Paulo Alves Silva
• Host Institution: Escola de Engenharia de Lorena (EEL). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Lorena , SP, Brazil
• City: Lorena
• Partner institutions: UNIDADE NAO MAPEADA
• Associated researchers: Ines Conceicao Roberto ; Leandro Gonçalves de Aguiar ; Livia Melo Carneiro ; Pedro Henrique Fernandes de Andrade Silva ; Solange Inês Mussatto Dragone

Abstract

Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is a renewable polymer with properties similar to polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and has the potential for widespread use in the packaging industry. This research project aims to investigate the feasibility of obtaining Polyethylene Furanoate (PEF) from spent coffee grounds. PEF is a renewable polymer with properties similar to polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and has the potential for widespread use in the packaging industry. The research will be divided into several stages. Initially, the enzymatic hydrolysis of coffee grounds will be optimized to convert the polysaccharides into simple sugars. In the second stage, the sugars present in the hydrolysate will be converted into 5-Hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) through heterogeneous catalysis. Reaction conditions will be investigated to achieve high sugar conversion and HMF selectivity, which is a key intermediate in the synthesis of Furandicarboxylic Acid (FDCA). In the next stage, the crude HMF will be used for FDCA production through heterogeneous catalysis. Non-precious metal catalysts in combination with different oxidizing agents will be evaluated to maximize the yield of this molecule. The crude FDCA will be recovered and used in the subsequent stage of the study. Finally, the FDCA will be utilized in the synthesis of PEF through polycondensation with ethylene glycol. The properties of the synthesized PEF can also be evaluated, including physical, thermal, and mechanical characteristics, to determine its suitability as a substitute for PET in packaging applications. The project also includes a comprehensive techno-economic analysis, considering the costs involved in each stage of the process. The result of this research project aims to provide a comprehensive assessment of the technical and economic feasibility of obtaining PEF from coffee ground biomass, providing valuable information for the development of sustainable production routes for this biopolymer. (AU)