Nanomaterial-based removal of aromatic compounds from coconut water

Overview

This technology uses high surface area nanomaterials to selectively adsorb and remove aromatic compounds from coconut water. The approach leverages the exceptionally high surface area to mass ratios of nanoparticles—millions to billions of times greater than their macroscopic counterparts—to capture aromatic biomolecules through pi-pi stacking chemistries. The solution addresses a key challenge in coconut water processing: the selective removal of unwanted aromatic compounds while preserving the nutritional and sensory qualities of the beverage.

The technology builds on validated nanomaterial adsorption methods previously demonstrated across multiple complex biofluids, including human saliva, blood, cerebrospinal fluid, and plasma. By adapting these proven chemistries to coconut water, the lab aims to deliver a scalable purification approach with full recovery of the adsorbent material.

Technical specifications

Core approach:

• Nanoparticles with tailored surface chemistries selectively bind aromatic target compounds via pi-pi stacking interactions
• High surface area to mass ratios enable efficient adsorption at low nanomaterial loading
• Nanomaterials are easily recovered from the treated sample after adsorption

Nanomaterial library:

• Includes gold nanoparticles, carbon nanotubes, cellulose nanocrystals, and magnetic nanoparticles
• Library synthesis paired with high-throughput screening capable of evaluating 10^20 or more unique nanoparticle variants
• Surface chemistries tailored to the chemical structure of the target aromatic compound

Validation workflow:

• Determine adsorption affinity and dynamic range for target aromatics in vitro
• Repeat adsorption studies in coconut water matrix
• Confirm full removal and recovery of nanoparticles from the final product

Technology readiness level

The underlying nanomaterial adsorption technology has been validated across multiple complex biofluids for removing aromatic polymers such as nucleic acids, peptides, and peptoids. The lab has demonstrated nanomaterial-based removal of endotoxins from cultured cells and adsorption of aromatic compounds from human saliva, blood, cerebrospinal fluid, and plasma. Translation to coconut water is anticipated to be straightforward and potentially easier than prior biofluid applications. Future work will focus on synthesizing and screening nanoparticle libraries tailored to coconut water aromatics, followed by in vitro and matrix validation studies.