Tunable polymeric adsorbent filter for targeted removal of organic compounds from coconut water and beverages

Overview

Amriton has developed a novel polymeric adsorbent filter designed to efficiently and economically remove targeted organic compounds from water and beverages. The technology addresses a key challenge in beverage processing: the selective removal of specific organic contaminants—such as off-flavor compounds—without disrupting the product profile. Preliminary data confirms the adsorbent's ability to remove benzothiazole and other organics from water, and the platform is being extended to flavor compound removal in coconut water and similar beverages.

The adsorbent material is low cost, regenerable, and reusable, making it attractive for commercial-scale beverage and water treatment applications. Functional groups on the polymer can be tailored to target specific analytes, giving manufacturers a flexible tool for addressing diverse contaminant challenges.

Technical specifications

Core technology:

• Novel polymeric adsorbent filter material developed under NSF SBIR Phase 1 and Phase 2 grants
• Regenerable and reusable design that reduces operating costs compared to single-use media
• Tunable functional groups that can be tailored to specific target compounds

Demonstrated performance:

• Effective removal of both short-chain and long-chain PFAS in batch and filter column tests
• Nearly 100 percent removal of many pharmaceutical compounds from water
• 50 percent removal of benzothiazole at 50 ppb in preliminary batch testing, with higher removal expected at lower concentrations and in filter configuration

Targeted applications for beverage processing:

• Removal of aldehydes, alcohols, benzothiazoles, and lactones that affect flavor profiles
• Applicable to coconut water and other beverage matrices
• Capacity and adsorption kinetics characterized through multi-point batch isotherm testing

Technology readiness level

The adsorbent filter has been validated in laboratory-scale batch and column tests for organic compound removal from water, including PFAS and pharmaceuticals. Preliminary data supports feasibility for flavor compound removal in beverages. A planned six-month validation study will test the current adsorbent in both water and coconut water matrices across multiple concentrations, with analytical method development supported by a collaborator at Temple University. If needed, adsorbent synthesis modifications will be identified to enhance removal of targeted flavor compounds. The technology is positioned for further co-development and pilot-scale validation with beverage industry partners.