Title:
Pectin from Ofi Cladodes: Towards Sustainable Biobased Solutions
Author(s):
Rodrigues, C., Souza, V.G.L., Coelhoso, I., Fernando, A.L.
Document(s):
Paper
Abstract:
The escalating challenges of desertification and water scarcity highlight the need for sustainable crops in arid regions. Opuntia ficus-indica (OFI) stands out given its resilience to adverse climatic conditions. OFI cladodes are often underutilized despite their rich polysaccharide composition, namely pectin. This study aims to optimize the extraction of pectin from OFI cladodes and characterize it for potential use as food packaging material. Cladodes were processed using acidified water, acetic acid (10% v/v), and citric acid (1% w/v) solutions varying liquid/solid (L/S) ratio (5-15), temperatures (70-90ºC), and extraction times (40-60 min). The optimal conditions were obtained for a L/S ratio of 10, extraction at 80ºC during 40 minutes using 1% (w/v) citric acid solution (pH around 2). ATR-FTIR spectroscopy revealed functional groups consistent to pectin, confirming that polysaccharide as the extracted material. The degree of esterification of OFI pectin was 35.56%, classifying it as low-methoxyl pectin, compared to 52.47% for commercial pectin. The galacturonic acid content was 41.39% and 76.93% for pectin derived from cladodes peel and pulp, respectively. These findings suggest that OFI cladodes, considered as a by-product, can be valorized as a viable source of pectin, with promising application in the development of sustainable food packaging materials.
Keywords:
Opuntia spp., pectin extraction, galacturonic acid
Topic:
Biomass Conversion to Bio-based Products and Chemicals
Subtopic:
Processes for bio-based chemicals and materials
Event:
32nd European Biomass Conference and Exhibition
Session:
6CV.7.3
Pages:
852 - 855
ISBN:
978-88-89407-24-0
Paper DOI:
10.5071/32ndEUBCE2024-6CV.7.3
Price:
FREE
