Sustainable valorization of green coconut mesocarp for extraction of peroxidase enzyme

Abstract

Green coconut mesocarp is a substantial agro‐industrial waste, and its valorization can be achieved by extracting the industrially valuable enzyme peroxidase (POD). Proximate analysis of the mesocarp revealed a protein content of approximately 2.5% (wet basis). The extraction was conducted using 0.5 M sodium phosphate buffer (pH 7.5) with polyvinylpyrrolidone as an inhibitor. Critical process parameters were optimized to enhance enzyme activity and simplify the extraction process. The maximum POD activity obtained was 875.19 U/mL at a protein concentration of 0.08 mg/mL. Different maturity stages of the feedstock significantly affected the POD activity and protein concentration. To remove non‐specific components and concentrate the crude enzyme, ultrafiltration membranes were employed. The 5 kDa nominal molecular weight cut‐off membrane provided a 5.9‐fold purification. Structural characterization using ATR‐FTIR spectroscopy and molecular weight determination by SDS‐PAGE (~40 kDa) confirmed the enzyme identity, which closely matched that of the standard peroxidase. The obtained results demonstrate that green coconut mesocarp is a viable and sustainable source for POD extraction.