Process for extraction of pectin

摘要

Embodiments of the processes provided herein allow for extraction of high quality pectins from pectin-containing plant materials using oxalic acid for extraction of the pectin containing material. Generally described, the process for extracting pectin having a high degree of polymerization includes preparing an aqueous suspension of a pectin-containing plant material; adding oxalic acid and/or a water-soluble oxalate to the aqueous suspension in an amount sufficient to provide a mixture having a pH of between 3.0 and 3.6 and a total molarity of oxalate greater than a total molarity of calcium(II); heating the mixture to a temperature from about 50 to about 80° C. for a time sufficient to extract pectin from the pectin-containing plant material; and separating the extracted pectin from the mixture. The extracted pectin desirably is characterized as having a degree of esterification (DE) of at least 72 and a high degree of polymerization, the degree of polymerization being characterized by an intrinsic viscosity of greater than about 6.5 dL/g.