Low methoxyl, highly calcium-reactive pectin and process for its preparation

Method for the preparation of low methoxyl pectin comprising the following steps:

• (a) Providing a pectin-containing starting biomass material that includes an insoluble fiber component and an insoluble protopectin component;
• (b) Extraction of the pectin-containing starting biomass material with an aqueous medium at an acidic pH under conditions where at least a portion of the pectin content is extracted;
• (c) Separation of the pectin from the treated starting biomass material and at least partial removal of divalent cations from the pectin extract;
• (d) Concentrating the pectin extract from step (c) so that the pectin extract has a content of pectin-containing material as dry matter that is in the range of 0.5 to 10 wt %;
• (e) Contacting the concentrated pectin extract from step (d) in an aqueous solution with a pectin methyl esterase (E.C. 3.1.1.11) at a pH of 3.8 to 4.5;
• (f) Allow the pectin methylesterase to de-esterify the pectin to produce a de-esterified pectin by incubating the aqueous suspension from step (e);
• (g) Terminating the de-esterification when the de-esterified pectin has a degree of esterification of from 10 to 34% and advantageously from 10 to 28.0%, and
• (h) Obtaining low methoxyl pectin therefrom,
• wherein in step (f) a further adjustment of the pH value is carried out by adding a pH-value-increasing substance or substance mixture.