PubMed · 2026-07-03
This review examines how a technique called FTIR spectroscopy is used to analyze coffee waste (grounds, husks, and skins) and the biochar made from burning them. It finds that while FTIR is widely used, the field needs standardized methods and better data modeling to unlock the full potential of coffee biochar as a soil improver.
FTIR spectroscopy can identify the chemical fingerprints of four distinct coffee residue types (spent grounds, husks, parchment, silverskin) and track how their functional groups change during thermal conversion to biochar.
Spectral indices derived from FTIR data can provide semi-quantitative estimates of biochar properties, but no standardized metrics yet exist across the research community.
Integration of FTIR with chemometric and predictive modeling approaches is identified as the critical next step for enabling mechanistic, quantitative interpretation of coffee biochar behavior in soil and remediation contexts.
