Extraction of pectin from Ethiopian prickly pear fruit peel and its potency for preparing of cellulose-reinforced biofilm

Abstract

The objective of this research was to extract and characterize the pectin from the fruit peels of Ethiopian prickly pears (EPP) (Opuntia ficus-indica) using microwave assisted method.Solution pH and microwave potential were optimized using different pH values (1, 3, and 4) and power (300, 400, and 500 W), respectively, to extract ameliorated pectin yield. The pectin yield for EPP varied between 2.3 and 10.0 percent. At a pH of 1.0 with 400 microwave intensity, the highest yield was seen (14.0 %). The extracted pectin from EPP had a 25.16 % ash content; however, the pectin sample contained less water and weighed less than the control sample. Amount of methoxyl, anhydrouronic acid, and degrees of esterification were determined to be 2.28, 25.58, and 49.87, respectively. Further, transforming the acquired pectin from EPP into a bio-based film as well as evaluating its properties. As a result of this study, a new function was given to EPP waste, and biofilms were developed with cellulose-reinforced modification. Films were prepared using the film-casting method. The pectin-based biofilm (EPP-F) is plant-based biodegradable and has competitive mechanical properties compared with some of the commodity plastics. Therefore, with further improvements, EPP-F could be potentially used for nonstructural applications, such as a sustainable packaging material for the food industry.