Enzymatic extraction of pectin from artichoke (Cynara scolymus L.) by-products using Celluclast®1.5L

The aim of this study was to optimise pectin extraction from artichoke by-products with Celluclast (R) 1.5L using an experimental design analysed by response-surface methodology (RSM). The variables optimised were artichoke by-product powder concentration (2-7%, X-1), enzyme dose (2.2-13.3 U g(-1), X-2) and extraction time (6-24 h, X-3). The variables studied were galacturonic acid (GalA) (R-2 93.9) and pectic neutral sugars (R-2 92.8) content and pectin yield (R-2 88.6). In the optimum extraction conditions (X-1= 6.5%; X-2= 10.1 U g(-1); X-3= 27.2 h), pectin yield was 176 mgg(-1) dry matter (DM). Considering 27.2 h of treatment as the +alpha value given by the design, the extraction time was increased up to 48 h obtaining a yield of 221 mg g(-1) DM. The enzymatic method optimised allows obtaining artichoke pectin with good yield, high GalA (720 mg g(-1) DM) and arabinose (127.6mgg(-1) DM) contents and degree of methylation of 19.5%.