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Bioactive pectic polysaccharides from bay tree pruning waste: Sequential subcritical water extraction and application
E Rincón1, E Espinosa2, M T García-Domínguez3
1Departamento de Química Orgánica, Universidad de Córdoba, Campus de Rabanales, Edificio Marie-Curie (C-3), CTRA. IV-A, Km 396, E-14014 Córdoba, Spain; Departamento de Química Inorgánica e Ingeniería Química, Universidad de Córdoba, Campus de Rabanales, Edificio Marie-Curie (C-3), CTRA. IV-A, Km 396, E-14014 Córdoba, Spain.
Abstract:
The potential isolation of bio-active polysaccharides from bay tree pruning waste was studied using sequential subcritical water extraction using different time-temperature combinations. The extracted polysaccharides were highly enriched in pectins while preserving their high molecular mass (10-100 kDa), presenting ideal properties for its application as additive in food packaging. Pectin-enriched chitosan films were prepared, improving the optical properties (≥95% UV-light barrier capacity), antioxidant capacity (˃95% radical scavenging activity) and water vapor permeability (≤14 g·Pa-1·s-1·m-1·10-7) in comparison with neat chitosan-based films. Furthermore, the antimicrobial activity of chitosan was maintained in the hybrid films. Addition of 10% of pectins improved mechanical properties, increasing the Young's modulus 12%, and the stress resistance in 51%. The application of pectin-rich fractions from bay tree pruning waste as an additive in active food packaging applications, with triple action as antioxidant, barrier, and antimicrobial has been demonstrated.
