Cyclodextrin-based nanofibrous molecular filter for removing off-flavors from coconut water
A food-grade nanofibrous membrane made from cyclodextrins that selectively removes off-flavors and unwanted aroma compounds from coconut water at the molecular level. Leveraging high surface area nanofibers and tunable cyclodextrin cavity sizes, the technology offers a non-toxic, sustainable approach to improving the sensory quality of coconut water concentrate.
Overview
This solution is a molecular filtering membrane developed from cyclodextrin-based nanofibers designed to selectively remove targeted off-flavors and aroma compounds from coconut water concentrate. Cyclodextrins are food-grade, nontoxic cyclic oligosaccharides derived from sustainable starch sources. Their hydrophobic cavities can entrap specific molecules through inclusion complexation, enabling selective molecular filtration. By engineering these cyclodextrins into a nanofibrous membrane format, the technology achieves a very high surface area for efficient capture and removal of undesirable flavor compounds, offering a natural and non-toxic approach to improving the taste and quality of coconut water products.
Technical specifications
- Material composition: Crosslinked, water-insoluble cyclodextrin nanofibers, suitable and safe for food-contact applications
- Filtration mechanism: Molecular-level removal via inclusion complexation, where target off-flavor and aroma compounds are trapped within the hydrophobic cavity of cyclodextrins
- Tunable selectivity: Different cyclodextrin types with varying cavity sizes enable selective removal of a wide range of compounds based on molecular size matching
- High surface area: Nanofibrous format provides significantly greater surface area compared to powdered cyclodextrin, resulting in superior filtration efficiency
- Lab-scale validation: Dead-end filtration testing has demonstrated very high removal efficiency of organic compounds from water, including textile dyes and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons
- Format: Membranous structure suitable for integration into existing filtration workflows for coconut water processing
Technology readiness level
The underlying cyclodextrin nanofibrous membrane technology has been validated at the laboratory scale for molecular removal of organic compounds from water in wastewater treatment and water purification applications. Prior work has demonstrated high removal efficiency and selective molecular capture based on cavity size matching. The next stage of validation involves producing nanofibers from multiple cyclodextrin types to identify the optimal formulation for coconut water off-flavor removal, followed by performance testing of the membrane for selective removal of targeted flavor and aroma compounds from coconut water concentrate.
About Cornell University
Cornell University is a comprehensive private, land-grant research university with campuses in Ithaca and New York City, combining significant scale with cross-disciplinary breadth. Industry connects through open-access user facilities and prototyping labs, pilot-scale testbeds, and a research and technology park that provide pathways from discovery to demonstration. A statewide extension network and integration with a major hospital system enable real-world deployment, while a graduate campus embedded in New York City’s tech corridor provides direct access to startups, venture investors, and corporate R&D teams. Research is supported by competitive federal funding from agencies such as the National Science Foundation, National Institutes of Health, the Department of Energy, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. A dedicated technology transfer office streamlines IP management, licensing, startup formation, and corporate partnerships across campuses.
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