Microwave Assisted Extraction of Watermelon Rind Pectin with Different Kind of Acid Solution

Abstract

Watermelon biomass can be categorized as three main components which are the flesh, seed, and rind. Watermelon rind is the area of white-colored flesh between the colored flesh and the outer skin of watermelon. It is constituted approximately 13% of pectin, and made it as a potential raw material for pectin production. Therefore it is necessary to separate pectin of watermelon rind. Pectin can be separated from watermelon rind matrix by microwave assisted extraction (MAE). Commonly, pectin separation is conducted by subjected in an acid solution. The aim of this work was to investigated the utilization of different kind of acid solution in the microwave assisted extraction of watermelon rind pectin. The acid solution were hydrocloric acid, citric acid, acetic acid and sulphuric acid. The molarity of the acid solution was varied of 1 and 2 N. 20 grams of watermelon rind powder was subjected into 200 ml od acid solution. The mixture was then irradiated in microwave extractor for 15 minutes at 39,9W. The research showed that 1 N of sulphuric acid gave the highest yield of extraction, namely 18%.