Simultaneous Degumming and Extraction of a Nature Gum from Raw Hemp

In order to develop a green and efficient hemp degumming process, an ammonium oxalate-enzyme combined process was proposed and the pectin was extracted from the degumming solution. Pectin can be used as a stabilizer, gel, emulsifier, and thickener in the food, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical industries. The results showed that the residual gum rate of hemp fibers treated by the ammonium oxalate-enzyme process was 2.34%, which was lower than that of the hemp fibers treated by alkali degumming process (12.875%) and alkali-enzyme degumming process (8.433%). The antibacterial property of hemp fibers treated by the ammonium oxalate-enzyme process was better than those of hemp fibers treated by alkali and alkali-enzyme combined process. After degumming with ammonium oxalate-enzyme, the lignin content of hemp fibers decreased from 8.1% (raw hemp) to 0.94%, and hemp fibers had good breaking strength. The optimum extraction process of pectin from the degumming solution of hemp was pH 4.5, concentration ratio 15%, and ethanol concentration 95%. The extraction rate of pectin could reach 10.46%.