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🗞️ Driving the news: Scientists at the University of Sharjah in the UAE have developed a newly patented carbon capture technology that transforms spent coffee grounds (SCG) and PET plastic waste into high-performance activated carbon
• The innovation, announced on October 6, 2025, blends these waste materials with potassium hydroxide (KOH) and uses a low-energy co-pyrolysis process to produce a CO₂-adsorbent capable of capturing industrial emissions.
🔭 The context: Global plastic and coffee waste volumes are immense — over 82 million metric tons of PET and 10 billion kilograms of coffee waste are generated annually
• Simultaneously, industrial carbon capture remains a costly and under-deployed solution, particularly in developing regions
• This innovation offers a dual benefit: reducing waste while providing a low-cost alternative to traditional CO₂-capture materials in sectors like fossil fuel power, chemicals, and manufacturing
🌍 Why it matters for the planet: By tackling both carbon emissions and waste management simultaneously, this technology aligns with circular economy principles and helps decouple economic activity from resource consumption
• Its low-cost, high-capacity performance could democratize access to carbon capture in low- and middle-income countries, where infrastructure constraints limit decarbonization options
• Its potential use in air and water purification adds further environmental value
⏭️ What's next: The technology, patented in March 2025, is now poised for industrial-scale testing. Researchers anticipate applications beyond power generation, including food processing and chemical industries
• Its commercial success will depend on partnerships with industrial emitters and possible integration into broader sustainability strategies, including the UAE’s net-zero roadmap and international carbon credit markets
💬 One quote: "What begins with a Starbucks coffee cup and a discarded plastic water bottle can become a powerful tool in the fight against climate change." – Dr. Haif Aljomard, Lead Inventor
📈 One stat: The global production of PET plastic exceeds 82 million metric tons annually, with most ending up in landfills or the environment
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