Investigating the influence of pectin content and structure on its functionality in bio-flocculant extracted from okra

Millett, Rachael; Mao, Yujie; Millet, Rachael; Lee, Chai Siah; Yakubov, Gleb; Harding, Stephen E.; Binner, Eleanor

Abstract

© 2020 The Author(s) Okra extract is known to have potential application as a bio-flocculant for wastewater treatment. However, no research to date has given insight into the components responsible for the flocculating ability of okra extract or its flocculating mechanism. The work presented here addresses this knowledge gap showing that pectin, especially pectin homogalacturonan (HGA) regions, appear to be the polysaccharides responsible for the flocculating ability of okra extract. The way pectin works in flocculation may be best explained by a polymer bridging mechanism. Specifically, a linear relationship between okra bio-flocculating ability and pectin homogalacturonan region to rhamnogalacturonan-I region weight ratio (HGA/RG-I) was found (y = 2.0x+47.6, R2 = 0.93, when GalA content > 300 mg/g extract), which was also validated using commercial citrus peel pectin.

Citation

Millett, R., Mao, Y., Millet, R., Lee, C. S., Yakubov, G., Harding, S. E., & Binner, E. (2020). Investigating the influence of pectin content and structure on its functionality in bio-flocculant extracted from okra. Carbohydrate Polymers, 241, Article 116414. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.carbpol.2020.116414

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: May 5, 2020
• Online Publication Date: May 12, 2020
• Publication Date: Aug 1, 2020
• Deposit Date: May 19, 2020
• Publicly Available Date: May 13, 2021
• Journal: Carbohydrate Polymers
• Print ISSN: 0144-8617
• Electronic ISSN: 1879-1344
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 241
• Article Number: 116414
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.carbpol.2020.116414
• Keywords: Organic Chemistry; Materials Chemistry; Polymers and Plastics
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/4470133
• Publisher URL: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0144861720305889