Degradation of apple cell wall material by commercial enzyme preparations

The action of commercial enzyme preparations on the release of cell wall constituents from alcohol-insoluble substance prepared from apples without skins and cores as well as their influence on the water binding of remaining residues is described as a model for the enzymatic cell wall destruction during production of liquid fruit products. Besides 'normal' enzyme concentrations adapted from the usual industrial dosage, 'tenfold' enzyme concentrations were applied. Dependent on enzyme spectrum and activities, concentrations of dietary fibre, e.g., pectin, increased in the soluble fractions using conditions of enzymatic 'mash treatment'. A further release of these cell wall constituents occurred when cellulase containing enzyme preparations were used under conditions of 'pomace treatment', especially with the 'tenfold' enzyme dosage. The partial enzymatic degradation of the cell wall material is connected with a decrease in water binding of the remaining residues during both simulated mash treatment of pomace treatment. Alcohol-insoluble substance from apples is a suitable model for the determination of complex enzymatic actions of enzyme preparations containing pectolytic, hemicellulolytic, and/or cellulolytic activities under standardised conditions.