Pectin is a natural polysaccharide, present in plant cell walls. Pectin is mainly used in food industry and beverages as a gelling and stabilizing agent. However, its biosorption abilities suggest an alternative use of it as a harmless chelating agent of heavy metals. Pectin’s ability to bind to heavy metals is remarkable since unlike other chelators, it does not show any side effects on human health, therefore can be used as a medication during heavy metal intoxication. The usage of pectin is emphasising the low cost and an easy way to deal with reduction of factories’ contaminated effluent. In research we were using simple steps for extraction of pectin from lemon peels. Acid hydrolysis (pH=2-3, temperature 70-80°C) and extraction was done on lemon peels, from which one type of sample was fresh peeled and other two were previously dried at different temperatures, 40°C and 60°C. The most convenient and high yielding way of retrieving pectin was found in the sample of lemon peels dried at 40°C. The least yielding were citrus peels dried at 60°C. The structures of pectin samples were studied by FTIR and will be tested on NMR and AAS spectroscopy methods. It is also planned to investigate thermal properties of the samples by using DSC analysis at the temperature range 20°C - 350°C. This research will encourage citrus factories to use their waste citrus peels as a raw material for pectin extraction and suggest industries an alternative way in treating wastewater.

Pectin extraction from lemon peels and characterization

2019 Fall National Meeting

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