Production of an Acidic Polygalacturonase from Aspergillus kawachii by Solid State Fermentation and Their Application for Pectin Extraction

An acidic polygalacturonase (PG) from Aspergillus kawachii was produced by solid state fermentation employing a polyurethane foam support. The conditions used for the production of acidic PG were particle size of support (0.6 or 500 $mm^3$) and fermentation time. From the factors studied, the particle size had important influence on enzyme production. The best conditions for acidic PG production were $0.6\;mm^3$ particle size, 18 hr at $30^{\circ}C$ and initial pH of 5.0. In addition, pectin was extracted from citrus pomaces (grapefruit, lime, and tangerine) by acidic PG at $50^{\circ}C$ for 24 hr with citric acid solution. Infrared spectroscopy showed that lime pomace had more high-methoxylated (65%) endogenous pectin than was obtained than from grapefruit or tangerine pomaces. The enzymatically extracted pectin yield in dry basis (d.b.) for grapefruit and lime pectins were 6.95 and 4.25%, respectively. The citric acid solution alone also contributed to pectin extraction from citrus pomaces (7-9%, d.b.). Limited pectin extraction by acidic PG from tangerine pomace was most likely due to the presence of low-methoxylated endogenous pectin. The enzymatic method for pectin extraction using acidic PG from A. kawachii is a promising technique for releasing highly polymerized pectic substances from high-methoxylated lime or grapefruit pomaces.