Effect of extraction conditions on the yield and chemical properties of
pectin from cocoa husks
Different extraction conditions were applied to investigate the effect of temperature, extraction time and
substrate–extractant ratio on pectin extraction from cocoa husks. Pectin was extracted from cocoa husks
using water, citric acid at pH 2.5 or 4.0, or hydrochloric acid at pH 2.5 or 4.0. Temperature, extraction time
and substrate–extractant ratio affected the yields, uronic acid contents, degrees of methylation (DM) and
degrees of acetylation (DA) of the extracted pectins using the five extractants differently. The yields and
uronic acid contents of the extracted pectins ranged from 3.38–7.62% to 31.19–65.20%, respectively. The
DM and DA of the extracted pectins ranged from 7.17–57.86% to 1.01–3.48%, respectively. The highest
yield of pectin (7.62%) was obtained using citric acid at pH 2.5 [1:25 (w/v)] at 95 C for 3.0 h. The highest
uronic acid content (65.20%) in the pectin was obtained using water [1:25 (w/v)] at 95 C for 3.0 h.