Sciencephys.orgCoffee on the nanoscale: Graphene oxide membrane removes half the caffeine while retaining key compounds
Australian researchers at UNSW have developed a graphene oxide membrane that removes about half the caffeine from already-brewed coffee while keeping its flavour compounds intact.
The humble coffee filter has the relatively simple job of letting the coffee through and leaving the grounds behind. But researchers from the ARC Center of Excellence for Carbon Science and Innovation (COE-CSI) are exploring whether a filter operating on the molecular scale can do something much more difficult: separate the caffeine from the coffee itself.
UNSW researchers developed a graphene oxide membrane that filters caffeine out of brewed coffee without stripping the flavour compounds that make it taste good.
The membrane uses atomically thin graphene oxide layers combined with sodium alginate and calcium ions to create an extraordinarily fine molecular sieve.
Unlike conventional decaffeination done before roasting, this approach works on already-brewed coffee, which the researchers say could open new possibilities for the industry.
The study found the membrane removed around half the caffeine from brewed coffee, though the technology is still at the research stage and not yet a commercial product.
More from Cuppa
Google's new 'CC' is an AI agent that helps families run their householdsGoogle has relaunched its CC AI agent as a household organiser for families, helping manage schedules, school emails, meal plans and shared to-do lists.
SpaceX to fly more NASA crews to space station under expanded $5.92 billion dealNASA has handed SpaceX a $946 million contract for three more astronaut missions to the International Space Station, extending the partnership through 2030.
China extending sea dominion to Batanes?China's Coast Guard is now patrolling waters east of the Philippines' Batanes islands, raising fears Beijing is expanding its maritime claims beyond the South China Sea.
Women and girls pay high price in DR Congo Ebola outbreakWomen and girls make up more than half of confirmed Ebola cases in the DR Congo outbreak, largely because they bear the burden of caring for the sick at home.
Macklemore ticket prices rise amid Ed Sheeran tour falloutMacklemore was dropped from Ed Sheeran's tour after making pro-Palestine comments onstage, and has since announced he will donate his $1 million in tour earnings to Palestinian aid.
UK publisher drops books by David WalliamsHarperCollins UK is dropping David Walliams' entire back catalogue after allegations of harassing female staff, going further than its earlier decision to stop new titles.
Uber ordered to pay $40m to family of woman killed after driver left her on highwayA US jury ordered Uber to pay $40 million to the family of a 23-year-old killed after her driver dumped her and a sick friend on a California highway.
Russians begin voting in parliamentary election set to cement Kremlin's powerRussians have begun three days of voting in a wartime parliamentary election with virtually no opposition, widely expected to cement the Kremlin's grip on power.