Activated Pectin-Containing Biomass Compositions, Products, and Methods of Producing

A method for producing an activated pectin-containing biomass composition, the method comprising:

• A) mixing a starting pectin-containing biomass material comprising an insoluble fiber component and an insoluble protopectin component with an aqueous solution of an alcohol to form a mixture;
• B) activating the starting pectin-containing biomass material to form an activated pectin-containing biomass composition comprising the insoluble fiber component and a soluble pectin component by subjecting the starting pectin-containing biomass material to (i) an activating solution formed by adding sulfuric acid to the mixture to adjust the pH of the mixture within the range from at or about 0.5 to at or about 2.5, and (ii) heat to a temperature greater than at or about 40° C.;
• C) applying mechanical energy either (i) to the mixture of step A), (ii) during the activating of step B), or (iii) to the mixture of step A) and during the activating of step B);
• and
• D) separating the activated pectin-containing biomass composition from the mixture;
• wherein during the method the alcohol present in the mixture is at or greater than about 35 weight percent, based on the total weight of the mixture.

A method for producing an activated pectin-containing biomass composition, the method comprising:

• a) mixing a starting pectin-containing biomass material comprising an insoluble fiber component and an insoluble protopectin component with an aqueous solution of an alcohol to form a mixture;
• b) treating the mixture of step a) to reduce the calcium content of the starting pectin-containing biomass material to less than or equal to about 6 mg per g dry matter of the starting pectin-containing biomass material to form a calcium-reduced pectin-containing biomass material;
• c) activating the calcium-reduced pectin-containing biomass material in the mixture of step b) to form an activated pectin-containing biomass composition comprising the insoluble fiber component and a soluble pectin component by subjecting the calcium-reduced pectin-containing biomass material to an activating solution formed by adding sulfuric acid and/or phosphoric acid to the mixture to adjust the pH of the mixture within the range from at or about 0.5 to at or about 2.5, and heating to a temperature greater than at or about 40° C.;
• d) applying mechanical energy (i) to the mixture of step a), (ii) during step b), (iii) during the activating of step c), or (iv) any combination thereof;
• and
• e) separating the activated pectin-containing biomass composition from the mixture.

A method for producing an activated pectin-containing biomass composition, the method comprising:

• A) mixing a starting pectin-containing biomass material comprising an insoluble fiber component and an insoluble protopectin component with an aqueous solution of an alcohol to form a mixture;
• B) activating the starting pectin-containing biomass material to form an activated pectin-containing biomass composition comprising the insoluble fiber component and a soluble pectin component by subjecting the starting pectin-containing biomass material to (i) an activating solution formed by adding an acid to the mixture to adjust the pH of the mixture within the range from at or about 0.5 to at or about 2.5, and (ii) heat to a temperature greater than at or about 40° C.;
• C) applying mechanical energy either (i) to the mixture of step A), (ii) during the activating of step B), or (iii) to the mixture of step A) and during the activating of step B);
• and
• D) separating the activated pectin-containing biomass composition from the mixture;
• wherein during the method the alcohol present in the mixture is at or greater than about 35 weight percent based on the total weight of the mixture;
• wherein the starting pectin-containing biomass material comprises citrus fruit vesicles comprising orange vesicles, lemon vesicles, lime vesicles, grapefruit vesicles, tangerine vesicles, or any combination thereof.