Pectin yield of 22.22 ± 0.98 % (dry basis) was achieved from prematurely dropped Golden Delicious apples, having a light orange hue (hue value: 78.08 ± 0.04) and an overall color difference (ΔE) of 9.92 ± 0.01 compared to commercial pectin (CP). Extracted AP exhibited a lower equivalent weight (725.24 ± 29.73) and higher methoxy content (8.36 ± 0.28 %) in contrast to CP. However, a similar degree of esterification of 71.57 ± 0.79 and 70.55 ± 0.59 %, was observed in AP and CP respectively. Apple pectin demonstrated slight lower galacturonic acid (GalA) content of 68.10 ± 3.94 % in comparison to 72.31 ± 4.62 % of CP, which was further corroborated by reduced intensity in FTIR fingerprint region (912-1025 cm-1). Morphology revealed a sheet-like cloudy appearance indicating a significant presence of associated sugars whereas X-ray diffraction highlighted the highly amorphous nature of AP. AP and CP solutions (3-9 %) displayed a shear-thinning flow and viscoelastic behavior where the loss (G') moduli dominated over the storage moduli (G"). Owing to high degree of esterification, galacturonic acid content (>65 %) that aligns with commercial standards and viscoelastic behavior, the extracted AP holds promise for potential utilization in commercial applications. This study underscores the potential for sustainable utilization of prematurely dropped apples through pectin extraction, contributing to valorization of the wasted bioresource.
Keywords: Apple pectin; Circular economy; Rheology; Thermal analysis; Waste utilization.
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