Orange residue pectin applying the 3R principle

Abstract

The purpose of the investigation is.evaluate the performance and characteristics of the pectin extracted from residues of sweet orange peels (Citrus sinensis L). on a laboratory scale, applying the 3R principle (reduce, recycle and reuse): for which two conditions were designed: the first submerge the orange peels without extracting oil in a water bath to inactivate the enzymes of its surface, and the second extract the essential oil from the peels by hydro-distillation to know the physicochemical properties, the obtained pectin yield, the reduction of solid waste in both processes, and compare with commercial pectin with high added value in food, pharmaceutical and cosmetological industries among others. Pectin extraction was carried out by acid hydrolysis using hydrochloric acid (HC1) to pH 3.2 with heating at 90 ° C for 90 min. Pectin extracted from orange peels without extracting the essential oil had a 35.8394 higher yield: degree of esterification 70.49%: galacturonic acid 87.84%: equivalent weight 2201.83 mg meq: 2.03% ash and 51.00% solid waste reduction. Pectin isolated from the orange peels to which the essential oil was extracted yielded 28.77%: degree of esterification 76.57%: galacturonic acid 87.81%; equivalent weight 2366.03 mg meq: Ashes 1.96. % and reduction of solid waste 59.69%. The isolated pectin according to the second condition, despite being a laborious process allows to obtain previously essential oil as a byproduct; the said heteropolisacarido is similar to the commercial pectin in terms of the content of galacturonic acid (min. 74% USP, 65% EU. FAO) as well as referring to ashes (max. 3.3%), both very important in the degree of gelation. This second condition also allows reducing, recycling and reusing (3R| orange peel residues.