Improving the Storage Duration and Improving the Characteristics of Tender Coconut Water using Non-thermal Two-phase Microfiltration

Abstract

Coconut (Cocos nucifera L.) is a significant crop in tropical climates. Tender coconut water (TCW) is ingested as a revitalizing beverage due to its nutritive and medicinal attributes. The combination of electrolytes and minerals renders TCW appropriate as a sports beverage. Nonetheless, it is very susceptible to degradation, rendering the TCW unfit for consumption after about one day owing to contamination from outside by bacteria and oxidization, which results in the loss of almost all of its taste and nutrients. A non-thermal two-phase microfiltration (NTM) method for sterile circumstances has been employed in this work to protect TCW. The levels of acidic substances like citric acid (CA), the antioxidant ascorbic acid (AA), and L-cysteine (LC) were calibrated based on flavor and included in TCW as organic additions. After purging the head with nitrogen, TCW was contained in the plastic and glass jars and kept in the refrigerator.
The NTM-TCW had been examined for microbiological, taste, and physiological qualities for 45 days. The purity of TCW contained in glass jars was superior in every aspect. The impact of refrigerated storage has been investigated. During storage, the total acidity level went up. TCW stored in plastic had the highest amounts, followed by TCW stored in glass, and finally, TCW was stored in its original state. The sugar content showed a different trend. The original sample kept the highest amounts of sugar after storage, while the values slowly dropped in glass and plastic storage, with plastic showing the most significant drop. The amount of amino acids was reduced in all of the settings. The original specimen was better preserved than those in glass and plastic, while TCW dropped in plastic broke down the fastest. As time went on, the original state constantly did a better job than glass and plastic at keeping the quality and nutritional content of TCW, with plastic being the least effective. Microfiltering (MF) and the incorporation of compounds have been determined to enhance the storage duration of TCW.