What is pectin?
Pectin refers to a group of diverse and complex polysaccharides found in the primary cell wall and intercellular space (middle lamella) of plant cells. Pectin is mostly composed of a sugar residue called D-galacturonic acid. The dominant polysaccharides in pectin are homogalacturonan, rhamnogalacturonan I, rhamnogalacturonan II, and xylogalacturonan. Pectin is a carbohydrate.
1. Structure 2. Types of Pectin 3. Discovery & History 4. Commercial Production 1. Structure Galacturonic Acid Unit Pectin for use in food is defined as a polymer containing galacturonic acid units (at least 65%). The acid groups may either be free, combined as a methyl ester, or as sodium, potassium, calcium or ammonium salts, and in some pectins amide groups may also be present. Pectin in the plant starting material is part of a very complex structure, which gives shape to the soft non-woody parts of the plant. Plant cell wall structure diagram Pectin in this state contains a range of neutral sugar molecules, in a complex non-random structure, containing blocks of homogalacturonic acid (sometimes called “smooth regions”), and blocks containing many neutral sugar molecules (rhamnose, galactose, arabinose, and lesser amounts of other sugars) in a highly branched structure (sometimes referred to as “hairy regions”). Plant Wall Cell Structure When pectin is extracted, much of the hairy r
