Eco-Friendly Synthesis, Characterization and Cytotoxicity of Zero-Valent Iron Nanoparticles from Spent Coffee Grounds

Abstract

Background: The agrifood sector generates substantial waste and by-products, creating opportunities for sustainable valorization. The coffee industry, for instance, produces spent coffee grounds (SCG), which can be utilized for eco-friendly nanomaterial production[1,2].

Objectives: the valorisation of spent coffee grounds, the synthesis and characterization of zero-valent iron nanoparticles (nZVI), and the assessment of their toxicity to human cells.

Methods: nZVI, widely studied for soil and water remediation, can be synthesized using SCG hydromethanolic extracts, eliminating toxic solvents. These green nZVIs were further characterized by ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis), fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) thermogravimetric analysis (TG), dynamic light scattering (DLS), and magnetic properties. SCG extract and nZVI cytotoxicity was assessed via MTT assay in MRC-5 (human lung fibroblast) and U-87 (human glioblastoma) cell lines.

Results: HPLC-DAD analysis of SCG extract revealed caffeoylquinic acids, feruloylquinic acids, di-caffeoylquinic acids, caffeine, and trigonelline as key components. SEM and EDS analyses revealed that nZVIs presented spherical shapes with particle sizes of 83.50 ± 14.69 nm and 72.47 ± 12.56 nm for SCG40°C-nZVI and SCG60°C-nZVI, with an elemental composition of carbon (47%), oxygen (34%), and iron (16%). DLS presented relatively lower sizes but in the same order of magnitude (14.64 ± 0.76 nm and 22.68 ± 6.79 nm, with a zeta potential of -5.99 ± 1.71 mV and -6.97 ± 1.15 mV, respectively). TG confirmed EDS results, showing approximately 20% residual mass at 1400 °C. nZVI were shown to be paramagnetic, and FTIR spectra showed the peaks corresponding to the phenolic compounds being incorporated into the nZVI.

Conclusions: Compared to chemically produced nZVI, green nZVI demonstrated improved stability due to organic matter on the surface. The adoption of SCG to produce nZVI is a low-cost approach without toxic reagents and provides new understanding into waste recycling and nZVI synthesis.