Extraction and Characterization of Pectin from Citrus Sinensis for its Application in Biodegradable Materials

Abstract

Considering the escalating environmental concern over plastic, which accounts for 73% of global waste, and the increasing contamination from food biomass, there is an urgent need for sustainable solutions. A clear example of this problem can be seen in Puerto Rico, where organic waste represents more than 35% of municipal solid waste. Therefore, the development of sustainable alternatives and an effective food waste management strategy is necessary. This study researches the use of orange peels, an organic solid waste, as a potential source for the extraction of pectin, a biopolymer known for its gel-forming capabilities and biodegradability. The objective was to extract and characterize citric pectin to determine its potential development of sustainable materials to reduce environmental impact. Pectin was extracted using two hydrolysis methods: acid hydrolysis with acetic acid (CH COOH) and basic hydrolysis with sodium hydroxide (NaOH), and compared with commercial pectin through FTIR and characterization tests. Thus, the basic extraction produced the highest methoxylated pectin (% DE: 99.09 % , % DM: 27.04 %), while the acid extraction provided a pectin with a gelling capacity of 67.14%, implicating further assessment of gelation potential under specific conditions and its corresponding properties. However, the commercial pectin sample was superior in purity and quality, due to it having a humidity of 0.77% and ash content of 1.40% Therefore, this research aimed to demonstrate the viability of transforming food waste into biomaterials that could ultimately replace non-renewable sources and reduce plastic production.