The application of activated carbon from coconut shell and zeolite as adsorbents on coffee decaffeination using the Swiss Water Process (SWP)

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of coconut shell activated carbon and zeolite as adsorbents with various concentrations in coffee decaffeination process using Swiss Water Process (SWP). This research used a completely randomized design (CRD) with 2 factors i.e. the type of adsorbent (coconut shell activated carbon and zeolite) and adsorbent concentration (5%, 10% and 15%) with three replications. The parameters tested were chemical quality (moisture content, ash content, antioxidant activity and caffeine content), physical quality parameter (colour) and organoleptic parameters (aroma and taste). The results showed that the interaction between the type of adsorbent and adsorbent concentration only contributed significantly to the caffeine content. Treatment using zeolite adsorbent with a concentration of 15% is the best treatment with the highest caffeine content reduction with moisture content 4.59%; ash content 4.77%; antioxidant activity 23.58%; the caffeine content 0.68%; ºHue value 47.06; L* value 10.34; aroma scoring 3.25 (a rather strong coffee aroma); aroma hedonic 3.35 (a bit like); taste scoring 3.05 (slightly bitter) and taste hedonic 3.2 (a bit like).