Recover and reutilization of waste matter of coffee preparation. An experiment for Environmental Science Course

This work is designed as an experience for organic andanalytical chemistry laboratories involved in environmentalscience courses. It achieves the following goals:1. It shows that environmental samples are not homogeneous(1).2. It is possible to build up students’ confidence in manipulatingeveryday matter when they are beginning tostudy scientific subjects and to introduce some methodsof sample preparation in analytical chemistry.3. It demonstrates some fundamental analytical principles(acid–base and redox analysis, solid–liquid and liquid–liquid extraction, etc.).4. It shows the importance of instrumental analysis, suchas gas chromatography, atomic absorption spectroscopyand elemental analysis; knowledge of these techniquesof quantitative analysis is necessary for many courseprograms in chemistry, biology, environmental sciences,etc., so that students may appreciate “real and final”applications.5. It produces an interesting experiment pertinent toscientific professionals that is inexpensive, does notrequire advanced techniques, and produces minimalwaste.