This is a laboratory process for preparing ultrafiltration and reverse osmosis membranes from ‘nata de coco.’ Applications for the ‘nata de coco’-derived membranes include fruit juice processing, enzyme concentration and water purification and treatment. The ‘nata de coco’ acetylated membrane maybe useful for heavy metal remediation, water purification, and recovery of useful substances from wastewater. Cellulose acetate membranes prepared from ‘nata de coco’ and other cellulosic materials have been tested for the recovery of mango flavor compounds from mango processing wastes and recovery of sugars and growth hormones from waste coconut water.