Aesthetic Profiling and Exploratory Composting Screening of Wood-Fiber Biocomposites Bonded with Spent Coffee Grounds and Ammonium Lignosulfonate

TL;DR

This study explores the visual appearance and composting potential of wood-fiber biocomposites made with spent coffee grounds and ammonium lignosulfonate.

Contribution

The study introduces aesthetic profiling and composting screening as new evaluation methods for SCG–ALS biocomposites.

Findings

Higher SCG + ALS content significantly darkens biocomposite color, increasing ΔE* from 18.38 to 32.51.

Biocomposites showed microbial colonization and surface degradation in composting conditions over 30 days.

Composting appears a potential end-of-life option, but longer-term monitoring is needed for circularity claims.

Abstract

Spent coffee grounds (SCGs) and lignin-derived binders, such as ammonium lignosulfonate (ALS), are increasingly being explored as renewable resources to reduce reliance on conventional formaldehyde-based resins in wood-fiber biocomposites. Although prior work has shown that SCG–ALS adhesive systems can achieve promising mechanical performance, two practical aspects essential for industrial applications and circular design remain insufficiently explored: a predictable and reproducible visual appearance and credible end-of-life options. In this study, sustainable wood-fiber biocomposites bonded with SCG and ALS were assessed from an aesthetic performance and end-of-life perspective. Color was quantified in the CIE L*a*b* (CIELAB) space and expressed as total color difference (ΔE*) relative to a reference panel. Increasing total SCG + ALS content from 40 to 75 wt.% based on oven-dry fibers produced pronounced darkening, with lightness decreasing from L* = 47.1 to 34.3 and ΔE* increasing from 18.38 to 32.51. Short-term composting behavior was explored by embedding fragments from formulations with 40–60 wt.% total SCG + ALS (based on oven-dry fibers; equal SCG/ALS shares) into a mixed organic substrate adjusted to an initial C/N ≈ 30 and monitored for 30 days in pots and trays. The process remained predominantly mesophilic (≈14–22 °C); nevertheless, visible microbial colonization and progressive surface degradation were observed, indicating susceptibility to biological activity under moist, nutrient-rich conditions. Overall, the results show that SCG–ALS content strongly governs the visual identity of the biocomposites and suggest composting-oriented routes as a potential end-of-life direction at an exploratory level, while highlighting the need for standardized compostability assessment and longer-term monitoring to substantiate circularity claims.

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