EUBCE 2024 - Esther DEL AMO MATEOS - Rhamnogalacturonan-I Pectin Recovery from Sugar Beet Pulp Through Greener Technologies

Rhamnogalacturonan-I Pectin Recovery from Sugar Beet Pulp Through Greener Technologies

Short Introductive summary

Sugar beet pulp (SBP), an abundant lignocellulosic byproduct from the sugar industry, holds the potential for producing high-value bioproducts like pectin. Particularly, the rhamnogalacturonan-I (RG-I) region within pectin is of interest for pectooligosaccharides (POS) extraction. Traditional methods employing acidic hot solutions for pectin extraction led to RG-I degradation. This study explored POS extraction from SBP using innovative techniques such as microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) and ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE), followed by purification through membrane processes. Hydrothermal MAE was the most effective technology, recovering 53.6% of POS. A cascade ultrafiltration (UF) process yielded 63.8% POS recovery in the retentate, reaching a concentration of 71.12 g POS/L. Alternatively, continuous diafiltration (DF) followed by UF (MWCO: 5 kDa and 100 kDa, respectively) concentrated the solution from 31.9 g POS/L to 77.8 g POS/L. This environmentally friendly process offers a POS-rich stream with potential prebiotic properties.

E. Del Amo Mateos, University of Valladolid, SPAIN
M. Coca, University of Valladolid, SPAIN
S. Lucas, University of Valladolid, SPAIN