Título:	Green coconut biorefinery RSM and ANN–GA optimization of coconut water microfiltration with integrated techno-economic analysis.
Autoria:	VIANA, J. D. da R. RODRIGUES, M. J. SOUZA, A. C. R. de SILVA NETO, R. M. da RIBEIRO, P. R. V. PETRUS, J. C. C. DIONISIO, A. P.
Afiliação:	JOSÉ DIOGO DA ROCHA VIANA, UNIVERSIDADE FEDERAL DE SANTA CATARINA; MOACIR JEAN RODRIGUES, UNIVERSIDADE ESTADUAL DO CEARÁ; ARTHUR CLAUDIO RODRIGUES DE SOUZA, CNPAT; RAIMUNDO MARCELINO DA SILVA NETO, CNPAT; PAULO RICELI VASCONCELOS RIBEIRO, CNPAT; JOSÉ CARLOS CUNHA PETRUS, UNIVERSIDADE FEDERAL DE SANTA CATARINA; ANA PAULA DIONISIO, CNPAT.
Ano de publicação:	2026
Referência:	Foods, v. 15, n. 4, 623, Feb. 2026.
Conteúdo:	The coconut water market continues to expand, but industrial supply is constrained by the high perishability of fresh coconut water and the need for stabilization routes that preserve quality. This study optimized crossflow microfiltration of coconut water using a silicon carbide (SiC) ceramic membrane, high permeability, chemical/thermal robustness, and cleanability, and assessed the techno-economic feasibility of a green coconut biorefinery producing microfiltered coconut water and coconut pulp. Pressure and temperature were modeled and optimized using a face-centered design (FCD) and artificial neural networks coupled with a genetic algorithm (ANN–GA), considering permeate flux and fouling index (p < 0.05). Both approaches converged to the same operating point, and experimental validation at 75 kPa and 30 °C achieved 605.32 ± 15.34 L h−1 m−2 and 82.79 ± 1.35% at VRR = 1. Sample-level fit statistics favored ANN (higher R2 and lower sample-level errors), whereas condition-wise grouped cross-validation (leave-one-condition-out) indicated higher predictivity and lower RMSECV for the quadratic FCD/RSM models across experimental conditions, highlighting response-dependent generalization within the investigated domain. Fouling analysis indicated concentration polarization as the main resistance contribution and a flux-decline behavior best described by the intermediate blocking mechanism. A SuperPro Designer® simulation over a 20-year project life indicated economic feasibility under baseline assumptions (Internal rate of return—IRR = 23.80%, Net present value—NPV = US$733,761, payback = 2.96 years), with profitability remaining attractive under ±10% selling-price variation. Overall, the process optimization and modeling outcomes align with the economic case, reinforcing the potential of this biorefinery concept for industrial deployment.
Thesagro:	Água de Coco Filtração Método de Otimização Análise Econômica
NAL Thesaurus:	Coconut water Microfiltration Neural networks Response surface methodology Fouling Economic analysis
Palavras-chave:	Biorrefinaria de coco verde Microfiltração tangencial Membrana cerâmica de carbeto de silício Análise técnico-econômica Algoritmo genético Polarização por concentração Incrustação de membrana
ISSN:	2304-8158
Digital Object Identifier:	https://doi.org/10.3390/foods15040623
Tipo do material:	Artigo de periódico
Acesso:	openAccess
Aparece nas coleções:	Artigo em periódico indexado (CNPAT)