Production of Pectin from Lemon Peel Powder Using Ohmic Heating-Assisted Extraction Process

The ohmic heating process is known as homogeneous, efficient, and rapid heating. In the present study, it was aimed to analyze the extraction of pectin from lemon peel using ohmic heating, to evaluate the specific pectin production coefficient (SPPC, mg/kJ) and compared it with traditional pectin production (TPP). The extraction process was carried out at 3 different temperatures (70–90 °C), 3 different solid:liquid ratios (1:30, 1:40, 1:50 g/ml), 3 different extraction holding times (0–30 min), and a constant pH (pH 2 that adjusted with citric acid). From the results, extraction conditions affected the pectin yield. As the temperature and extraction holding time increased, the pectin yields increased. In general, the 30-min pectin yields of the ohmic heating-assisted extraction (OHAE) process were similar to the pectin yields obtained from the TPP under the same conditions. Performance evaluation of pectin production was made for 90 °C, and energy efficiency was found to be over 69% for 3 different solid to liquid ratios. It has been stated that as an alternative to the TPP method, the OHAE process can be applied.