Chemicals Based
Technologies - High Grade Pectin from Lime Peels
Introduction
A premier technology providing institution
for indeginously developed technologies is offering
technology for producing high grade pectin from lime
peels. Pectin substances are high molecular weight polysaccharides
which enhance the physiologic fractions of the digestive
tract through their colloidal, chemical and antibacterial
properties. Citrus fruits are rich in pectin and therefore,
it is extracted from citrus fruit peel.
Process
Citrus waste obtained during crushing of limes is minced
into small pieces, washed in water, and pressed to remove
the undesired soluble matter. The minced peels are subjected
to extraction with steam. The cooked magma is filtered
and cooled. The filtrate is treated with aluminium sulphate
for precipitation of aluminium pectinate. Aluminium
pectinate is filtered, stirred and passed through cation
exchange resins to separate the concentrated pectin
mass. The pectin mass is washed and pressed and the
cake thus obtained is broken into small pieces and passed
through granulator. These granules are subsequently
dried and powdered. The spent resin is regenerated and
the dilute alcohol obtained in washing of pectin is
recovered by distillation.
Areas of Application
Food formulations industry in making
jams, jellies and in pharma industry for treatment of
diarrhoea.
Advantages
In this process lesser quantity
of alcohol is required for separation of pectin. The
process yields high grade pectin (> 200 grade).
The recovery of alcohol is approx. 90%. It thus helps
in saving energy.
The process developed is simple,
cheap and gives rise to import substitute product,
pectin of 200 grade.
The process aims at profitable
utilisation of lime peel, a food industry waste.
Also the process is eco-friendly
as it does not generate any effluent.
Stage of Development: Commercialised
Inputs Required
Power: 1800 KWH -
Water: 8 KL - per tonne of product
Steam: 9 T -
Land: 5000 m2, Covered area: 3000 m2
Manpower: 15 including 1 Managerial, 4 Skilled and 10
Unskilled
Raw material: Citrus peels(Wet) - 70,000 -
(Dry) - 70,000 -
Sulfuric acid: 3.5 litres - per tonne of product
Alcohol: 82500 litres -
Economic Data: Can
be arranged on request
Main Application: Chemical
Industry
For further information please contact
:
Technology Bureau for Small Enterprises
APCTT Building, Qutub Institutional Area
P.O. Box - 4575
New Delhi - 110016
Tel: 91-26864501, 26856276, 2696619/521
Fax: 91-11-26856274
E-mail : tbse@apctt.org
Web: www.techsmall.com
