The pectin was extracted from coarsely ground, dehydrated
peels of passion fruits. The peels were heated in diluted hydrochloric
acid solution for a specific time, filtered through a nylon
cloth (0.25 mm pore diameter) and pressed to recover the extract.
The extract was further filtered through whatman No. 3 filter paper
using buchner funnel. The pectin was precipitated by adding
absolute ethanol (98% purity) in the ratio of 1:2 (1 part of pectin
extract and 2 parts of ethanol) and keeping at room temperature for
2 h. The precipitated pectin was filtered and the pectin residue was
separately washed with aqueous ethanol of 75% (v/v) and 85% (v/v)
and finally with absolute ethanol to remove the soluble impurities.
The pectin was finally washed with absolute alcohol and dried at
50 1 C in a vacuum oven under vacuum of 2400Hg to constant
weight. The yield of pectin was calculated as follows: