The annual production of pineapples in Ghana is in an excess of 700,000 metric tons with processing activities reportedly generating 40% waste leading to significant concerns of disposal. Bromelain, a protease found in pineapples, which has wide applications in varied industries, including pharmaceutical, food, textile and cosmetic, can be extracted from pineapple waste. This study investigated the influence of pineapple variety, state of maturity and plant part on the concentration, and activity of bromelain to facilitate the development of extraction processes for bromelain.<br/><br/>Bromelain was extracted from waste parts (core, peel, stem and crown) of partially and fully ripe pineapple using three buffers to allow selection of the most suitable buffer and maturity stage using protein concentration and enzyme activity as indices. The effect of pineapple variety on bromelain extraction was also studied and the highest yielding variety was selected for further purification procedures, namely ammonium sulphate precipitation followed by membrane dialysis and isoelectric precipitation. Purified extracts were then lyophilized with added cryoprotectants.<br/><br/>Sodium citrate buffer (pH7) resulted in better bromelain extraction as compared with distilled water and sodium acetate buffer. The best raw material for the extraction was identified as the core and peel of partially ripe, Smooth Cayenne pineapples. Isoelectric precipitation yielded approximately 5 to 20 purification fold for all waste parts and the lyophilized enzyme retained at least 85.4% of original activity. Bromelain concentration and activity were generally influenced by maturity state, variety and plant part as well as the extraction buffer, and the purification methods employed. A harmonized procedure for bromelain extraction from pineapple waste was elaborated.

Defining a process for the extraction of bromelain from pineapple waste

ACS Fall 2021

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