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Specifications of Pectin

Pectin is a complex carbohydrate found primarily in ripe citrus fruits and apples. Pectin is mainly used as a thickening and stabilizing agent in jams, jellies, bakery fillings, beverages and a wide variety of other foods. It is also water soluble, making it an important source of dietary fiber. Pectin is classified by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as a generally regarded as safe (GRAS) additive.

  1. Basic Facts

    • Encyclopedia Britannica defines pectin as any of a group of water-soluble carbohydrate substances that are found in the cell walls and intercellular tissues of certain plants. As a fruit becomes overripe, the pectin breaks down to water-soluble simple sugars. Pectin is a light-colored powder -- usually white or yellow, gray or brown.

    Chemical Makeup

    • Pectin is a linear polysaccharide made up of approximately 300 to 1,000 monosaccharide units. The main monosaccaride unit is D-Galacturonic acid, and the residues of this acid are linked by alpha-1, 4 glycosidic linkages. The molecular weight of pectin is 50,000 to 150,000 daltons. High methoxyl or HM pectin is a variety of pectin in which more than half of the galacturonic acid residues are esterified. Low methoxyl or LM pectin is pectin in which less than half of the galacturonic acid residues are esterified.

    Production Process

    • According to the International Pectin Producers Association, after the pectin factory receives apple residue or citrus peel from juice producers, the raw material is added to hot water. The water usually contains mineral acid to aid in processing. The pectin is extracted and the remaining solids are separated to clarify the solution. The concentrated liquid is mixed with an alcohol and impurities are removed. It may be treated with ammonia before or after drying. Once dry, the solid is ground to a powder, tested and blended with sugar or dextrose.

    Pharmaceutical Properties

    • According to the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, preliminary clinical data suggests that pectin may help treat diarrhea and elevated cholesterol. It has been promoted -- but not proven as an effective treatment -- for lowering the risk of colon cancer and for preventing damage from radiation therapy.

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