Research Projects

Coconut whey, the aqueous byproduct derived during virgin coconut oil or protein-rich product processing, is often overlooked as waste despite being a rich source of bioactive proteins such as albumins, globulins, and enzymatic components. These proteins possess significant nutritional and functional benefits and can be utilized in food, pharmaceutical, and nutraceutical formulations. However, coconut whey is frequently discarded due to the lack of recovery technologies, which is contributing to economic and environmental loss. Efficient separation and recovery of proteins from this byproduct offer an opportunity to transform waste into high value bioresources, Membrane-based filtration techniques, particularly ultrafiltration and nanofiltration, are widely used for protein recovery in dairy and plant-based systems due to their simplicity, scalability, and minimal thermal degradation. However, when exposed to complex biofluids like coconut whey, these conventional membranes often suffer from severe limitations such as membrane fouling, poor selectivity, protein denaturation, and reduced long-term stability. Fouling caused by protein adsorption and biofilm formation compromises membrane efficiency, increases operational costs, and reduces permeate quality. Moreover, most current polymeric membranes lack the specificity required to separate closely sized molecules such as protein and sugars. To overcome these challenges, recent research has turned to zwitterionic materials, which exhibit both positive and negative charges within the same molecular structure. These materials form strong hydration layers that resist non-specific protein adsorption, enhancing antifouling properties greatly. Poly (2-oxazoline) (POx) has emerged as a promising, next-generation polymer due to its tunable hydrophilicity, biocompatibility, low toxicity, and chemical flexibility. Unlike traditional polymers such as polysulfone, polyethersulfone, or PVDF, POx can be precisely functionalized with zwitterionic or other responsive groups, allowing for highly selective interactions with specific protein types based on size, charge, or hydrophilicity. This proposal aims to develop and engineer smart zwitterion-integrated POx-based core-shell nanofibrous membranes supported on ceramic substrates for selective protein recovery from coconut whey. The hybrid architecture combines the high surface area and tunable chemistry of electrospun POx nanofibers with the mechanical durability and thermal resistance of ceramic supports. Such membranes will provide superior antifouling performance, pH-responsive protein selectivity, and long-term operational stability, offering a transformative solution for valorizing coconut whey.