Real-time pectin extraction and evaporation control

Pectin is acidic  polysaccharide that occurs in the cell walls of a fruit. Pectin is often used as a food additive for gelling, thickening and stabilizing purposes. Pectin is also used in cosmetics in the manufacture of oils and creams, paints, toothpaste  and shampoos, and in the manufacture of wound healing preparations and gel caps in the pharmaceutical industry. 

Maximized pectin extraction with in-line concentration measurement  

Pectin can be found in citrus peels, in the waste from extraction of lemon and orange juices, in the dry residue from the extraction of apple juice. Therefore, pectin can be a by-product of either cider or juice production.  

• Hydrolysis. The most common way of producing pectin is in the process of extraction with aqueous mineral acid, called hydrolysis. In this process hydrochloric acid (HCl) is most commonly used. The acid hydrolysis results in a slurry containing a solid residue that is separated by filtration or centrifugation.  
• Pectin extraction. The extract is treated to isolate the pectin. This is most commonly done by mixing the extract with an organic solvent in which pectin is insoluble. This way the impurities will remain in the solution. The internationally approved solvents are methanol, ethanol or isopropanol. The pectin is precipitated and can be physically separated. 
• Pectin drying. the isolated pectin precipitate is treated with alcohol, and then dried and ground to a fine powder product. 

Download the application note to learn how Vaisala Polaris Sanitary Refractometer is used to continuously monitor the concentration of the liquid pectin extract to ensure optimum control and the highest product quality. Easy installation directly in the reaction vessel enables real-time data on the amount of extracted pectin eliminating the need for time-consuming sampling and laboratory tests. The measurement by the refractometer is not influenced by suspended solids or bubbles in the slurry and is selective to the liquid  phase. Pectin is acidic polysaccharide that occurs in the cell walls of a fruit. Pectin is often used as a food additive for gelling, thickening and stabilizing purposes. Pectin is also used in cosmetics in the manufacture of oils and creams, paints, toothpaste and shampoos, and in the manufacture of wound healing  preparations and gel caps in the pharmaceutical industry. 

Download our application note in PDF by filling in the form.
Go back to all food and beverage applications.
 

Image