ARS | Publication request: STRATEGIC APPROACH TOWARD INDUSTRIAL UTILIZATION OF CITRUS PEEL

Submitted to: Subtropical Technology Conference Proceedings
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: September 16, 2003
Publication Date: October 16, 2003
Citation: Luzio, G.A. 2003. Strategic approach toward industrial utilization of citrus peel. Subtropical Technology Conference Proceedings. 54:41.

Technical Abstract: It is well known that washed citrus peel is composed mainly of polysaccharides. Maximum utilization of this material resides on finding new products derived from the cellulosics or pectins found in this source. Strategies on this conversion will be discussed. For ease of chemical and enzymatic modification of peel, pectins may be an optimum starting material. Purification of pectins prior to modification may not be required for many industrial and consumer products. An example of an enzyme modified pectin, extracted from citrus peel, for particle suspension will be discussed. During deesterification of citus peel pectin, the ester groups on the pectin can be removed in a random or blockwise manner. The sequential or blockwise hydrolysis of esters is typically mediated by pectin methyl esterases. The unesterified galacturonic acid units formed by blockwise deesterification are highly reactive to divalent cations such as calcium. Pectins having such blocks of unesterified galacturonic acid are said to be "calcium sensitive." It can be shown that solutions of particular calcium sensitive pectins together with calcium ions can have pseudoplastic properties and exhibit yield stress behavior. Yield stress behavior can be important for a number of industrial and food applications such as for particle suspension.