ASME 1970 Citrus Engineering Conference

CEC1970
March 25, 1970, Lakeland, Florida, USA
CEC1970-1607

CITRUS P E C T I N AND DRIED P E C T I N P E E L

R. P a u l S n y d e r , P. E .
Chief E n g i n e e r
Food Equipment & Supply Co. , Inc.
P. 0.Box 422
Tampa, Florida

T h i s p a p e r i s intended to d i s c l o s e knowledge of p r e s e n t day m e t h o d s

f o r the production of pectin and d r i e d p e c t i n p e e l by c i t r u s f r u i t p r o -
c e s s i n g plants in F l o r i d a and in California. T h i s study cannot be con-
s i d e r e d a c o m p l e t e p r e s e n t a t i o n s i n c e i n f o r m a t i o n i s not a v a i l a b l e f r o m
a l l producing p l a n t s . Some d o m e s t i c and f o r e i g n o p e r a t i o n s c a n not
d i s c l o s e t h e i r m e t h o d s due to m a n a g e m e n t r e g u l a t i o n s c o n c e r n i n g p r o -
p r i e t a r y i n f o r m a t i o n . T h e r e a r e o t h e r p l a n t s w h e r e the w r i t e r h a s not
been a b l e to obtain s p e c i f i c i n f o r m a t i o n .

P e c t i n i s defined a s --"Any of a c l a s s of c a r b o h y d r a t e s of high

m o l e c u l a r weight contained i n the c e l l w a l l s of v a r i o u s f r u i t s and
v e g e t a b l e s , a s a p p l e s , l e m o n s , o r c a r r o t s , u s e d a s the b a s i s of f r u i t
jellies. " In b r i e f , p e c t i n puts the gel in jelly, jam, confections and
o t h e r food p r o d u c t s w h e r e s u g a r i s p r e s e n t i n q u a n t i t i e s of 60 p e r c e n t
o r g r e a t e r . In n o r m a l c o m m e r c i a l p r o d u c t s , i t i s a n o d o r l e s s , t a s t e -
l e s s , off-white g r a n u l a r m a t e r i a l s i m i l a r to g r a n u l a t e d s u g a r but of a
m o r e r e s i l i e n t , l e s s g r i t t y s t r u c t u r e . Low methoxyl p e c t i n s a r e c o m -
pounded to get with c a l c i u m and a s l i t t l e a s 30 p e r c e n t s u g a r p r e s e n t .

When a food p r o d u c t of a low s u g a r content r e q u i r e s a gel o r thicken-

ing agent, a n additive known a s c a r r a g e e n i s often u s e d . T h i s p r o d u c t
i s obtained f r o m a stubby, p u r p l i s h , edible s e a w e e d known c o m m e r c i a l l y
a s I r i s h Moss.

Published with permission.

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 GRADES O F P E C T I N

P e c t i n u s e d i n foods i s gaged on i t s a.bility to f o r m f r u i t j e l l i e s .

And h e r e the c r i t e r i o n i s the " J e l l y G r a d e " - - t h a t i s , the r a t i o of
weight of s u g a r to weight of p e c t i n i n a n o r m a l l y f i r m jelly a n d with
65 p e r c e n t t o t a l s o l u a b l e s o l i d s .

P r e s e r v e c o m p a n i e s h a v e b e c o m e a c c u s t o m e d to u s e the 1 5 0 - g r a d e
type, s o p e c t i n m a k e r s blend i n sufficient r e f i n e d d e x t r o s e to r e d u c e t h e
g r a d e to a c o n s t a n t f i g u r e of 150.

When p r o d u c e d f r o m f r e s h l e m o n p e e l , t h e i n i t i a l jelly g r a d e of the

u n s t a n d a r d i z e d p e c t i n will r u n 200 to 230 g r a d e .

In t h i s c o u n t r y a p p r o x i m a t e l y half of the p e c t i n c o n s u m e d i s u s e d
i n jelly a n d j a m s . T h e b a l a n c e i s u s e d p r i m a r i l y i n food p r o d u c t s a n d
in pharmaceutical compounds.

E A R L Y PECTIN

H i s t o r i c a l l y i t i s a s s u m e d that p e c t i n w a s f i r s t developed f r o m
a p p l e s o r apple juice. You m a y r e c a l l when we a d d e d a liquid " C e r t o "
o r s i m i l a r gelling a g e n t to h o m e m a d e jelly o r j a m to i n s u r e t h a t i t
would f o r m a f i r m gel on cooling. T h i s w a s a n a p p l e p r o d u c t i n which
pectin was made available f o r domestic and c o m m e r c i a l use.

C o m m e r c i a l pectin production f r o m apples in this country h a s a l l

but d i s a p p e a r e d due to e c o n o m i c p r e s s u r e s f r o m c i t r u s p r o d u c e d p e c t i n .
In m a n y p a r t s of the w o r l d , the a p p l e c o n t i n u e s to be a m a j o r s o u r c e f o r
t h i s p r o d u c t . S o m e of t h e s e f o r e i g n p e c t i n p r o d u c i n g p l a n t s h a v e d i s -
c o v e r e d they c a n u t i l i z e t h e i r p e c t i n r e c o v e r y e q u i p m e n t on a n e a r y e a r
round s c h e d u l e by buying d r i e d c i t r u s p e c t i n p e e l f r o m c i t r u s p r o c e s s o r s
i n this c o u n t r y a n d e l s e w h e r e . T h i s w a s h e d , u n l i m e d , d r i e d p e e l f r o m
l e m o n , l i m e , g r a p e f r u i t o r o r a n g e i s wetted a n d i n t r o d u c e d into t h e
p e c t i n r e c o v e r y p r o c e s s s i m i l a r to we p e e l f r o m a p p l e o r o t h e r f r u i t .

T h i s d e m a n d f o r d r i e d p e c t i n p e e l h a s c r e a t e d a new b y - p r o d u c t f o r
o u r c i t r u s p r o c e s s i n g p l a n t s . Methods u s e d i n p r o d u c i n g d r i e d p e c t i n
p e e l will be d i s c u s s e d l a t e r i n t h i s p a p e r .

P E C T I N F R O M CITRUS

Now l e t ' s look a t p e c t i n a n d e x a m i n e how i t i s p r o d u c e d f r o m c i t r u s

p e e l and r a g .

In c i t r u s , p e c t i n o c c u r s m a i n l y a s p r o t o p e c t i n - - i n the white i n n e r
r i n d (Albedo), i n juice s a c c e l l w a l l s , and i n F i b r o - V a s c u l a r bundles.
And the l e m o n i s a p a r t i c u l a r l y valuable s o u r c e of t h i s u s e f u l c o m p l e x
carbohydrate.

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 The natural water-insoluble f o r m readily yields a water-soluble
p e c t i n upon t r e a t m e n t with a c i d s , a l k a l i s , o r e n z y m e s . T h e p e c t i n
l i b e r a t e d h a s a c h a i n - l i k e m o l e c u l e of p a r t i a l l y e s t e r i f i e d p o l y g a l a c -
t u r o n i c a c i d u n i t s , with m o l e c u l a r weight a v e r a g i n g 200, 000 - 300, 000.
Under influence of c e r t a i n o r g a n i c r e a g e n t s , t e m p e r a t u r e s , a n d pH
conditions, the "Bundles" of t h e m o l e c u l e c a n e i t h e r be s h o r t e n e d o r
made m o r e thread-like.

T h e s e p r o c e s s e s p r o d u c e the r a p i d and s l o w s e t t i n g p e c t i c s u b s t a n c e .
O r d i n a r y high methoxyl p e c t i n d o e s not f o r m t h e r m o - r e v e r s i b l e g e l s
like t h o s e of gelatin, but r a t h e r f o r m s a gel only a t pH v a l u e s below
about 3 . 5 a n d i n the p r e s e n c e of m o r e t h a n 40 - 50 p e r c e n t of a dyhy-
drating substance.

In j e l l i e s o r j a m s , the time r e q u i r e d f o r i n c i p i e n t g e l a t i o n , a f t e r a
s u i t a b l e cooking p e r i o d , i s the "setting t i m e . I' J a m s c o n t a i n i n g f r u i t
o r b e r r i e s m u s t s e t r a p i d l y while s t i l l hot to p r e v e n t floating of f r u i t .

However, jellies lose d e s i r a b l e internal c h a r a c t e r i s tics if jostled

while s e t t i n g . H e n c e , a slow s e t t i n g p e c t i n i s p r e f e r r e d s o the j e l l i e s
m a y be p a c k e d a n d put i n u n d i s t u r b e d s t o r a g e b e f o r e g e l a t i o n i s c o m p l e t e .

T o get a quick p i c t u r e of a full p e c t i n p r o d u c i n g o p e r a t i o n , join m e

now i n a w a l k - t h r o u g h a t one of t h e l a r g e s t p e c t i n p r o d u c i n g p l a n t s i n
C a l i f o r n i a . T h i s plant u s e s the a c i d e x t r a c t i o n , a l u m p r e c i p i t a t i o n
p r o c e s s a s i m p r o v e d s i n c e they b e g a n p e c t i n r e c o v e r y i n 1922. T h i s
i s the l e m o n p r o d u c t s d i v i s i o n plant of Sunkist G r o w e r s a t C o r o n a .

T h i s plant n o r m a l l y p r o c e s s e s l e m o n s about e l e v e n m o n t h s e a c h
y e a r . P r o d u c i n g l e m o n juice, c o n c e n t r a t e , b e v e r a g e b a s e s , cold
p r e s s e d a n d d i s t i l l e d o i l s , d r i e d c i t r u s pulp ( c a t t l e f e e d ) a n d v a r i o u s
types of p e c t i n . On o c c a s i o n , o r a n g e s a r e p r o c e s s e d t h r o u g h t h i s plant
when a s s o c i a t e p l a n t s a r e o v e r l o a d e d . The p e c t i n r e c o v e r y s y s t e m i s
a 24 hour o p e r a t i o n while t h e juice p l a n t n o r m a l l y i s on a n 8 o r 1 2 h o u r
daily s c h e d u l e .

We will s t a r t a t the pulp s t i l l w h e r e p e e l f r o m the juice p r e s s e s h a s

p a s s e d through a c h o p p e r which p r o d u c e s p i e c e s s m a l l e r than one-half
i n c h d i a m e t e r a n d i s p u m p e d i n a w a t e r s l u r r y to the s t i l l . Rag a n d s e e d
f r o m t h e j u i c e f i n i s h e r s i s c a r r i e d d i r e c t l y to the f e e d m i l l : It is not
u s e d in the p e c t i n r e c o v e r y o p e r a t i o n . A f t e r the oil is d i s t i l l e d off,
the p e e l d i s c h a r g e s into a long f l u m e whe r e r i n s e w a t e r c o o l s a n d t r a n s -
p o r t s the p e e l to the f i r s t s t e p i n the p e c t i n o p e r a t i o n : ( R e f e r to flow
d i a g r a m , F i g u r e 1. ):

1. P e e l i s w a s h e d i n a m i x i n g type s c r e w t r o u g h to r e m o v e a s
m u c h of the c i t r a t e s a s p o s s i b l e .

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 2. A s l u r r y p u m p f e e d s the p e e l t h r o u g h d e w a t e r i n g r e e l s , into
measuring tanks.

3. F r e s h \t7dter 1s a d d e d In the m e a s u r i n g t a n k s a n d t h r e e ton

batc h t ~ sa r e pumped to the extraction r o o m .

A. S o m e b a t c h e s a r e s t o r e d i n t a n k s with SO2 f o r pectin

plant f e e d while t h e juice plant i s not i n o p e r a t i o n .

4. In the wood s t a v e e x t r a c t i o n t a n k s , e a c h b a t c h h a s SO2 o r

s u l p h u r i c ac,id a d d e d to a pH of a p p r o x i m a t e l y 2. 2 and i s
then cooked f o r a p p r o x i r n a t e l y 45 m i n u t e s a t 95OC. , by m e a n s
of low p r e s s u r e s t e a m i n j e c t i o n . C o n s t a n t a g i t a t i o n i n s u r e s
uniform e x t r a c t i o n .

5. The m a g m a d r o p s f r o m the e x t r a c t i o n tanks to a r e e l h o u s e

~ v h e r ethe p e e l i s r e m o v e d and the l i q u o r ( 0 . 4 t o 0. 7 p e r c e n t
p e c t i n ) i s held in holding t a n k s . P e e l n o r m a l l y i s d i s c h a r g e d
to the fec!<l m i l l but if p e e l i s in s h o r t supply, i t c a n be r e -
circulated for a second o r t h i d extraction.

6. Pec tln l l q u o r , contalnlng s o m e f r a g m e n t s of p e e l s o l i d s , 1s

p a s s e d through n s t r l n g f i l t e r to r e m o v e a s m u c h particulate
1nattt.r a s p o s s l b l c .

7. In f i l t e r - a i d m i x i n g t a n k s , diatomac,eous e a r t h i s m i x e d a t
a p p r o x i m a t e l y 250 pounds to 2500 gallons and t h i s m i x i s
pumped through p r e s s u r e leaf f i l t e r s until c l a r i f i e d . T h i s
c l e a r l i q u o r i s then cooled to 3 0 ° c . , in a cooling t o w e r o r
in a p l a t e type e x c h a n g e r .

8. T h e cool p e c t i n l i q u o r ( 0 . 5 to 0. 6 p e r c e n t p e c t i n ) i s then
blended in s t o r a g e t a n k s to a s s u r e u n i f o r m i t y i n s u b s e q u e n t
process.

9. T h e n to the p r e c i p i t a t i o n t a n k s w h e r e a l u m i n u m c h l o r i d e
solution and s o d i u m c a r b o n a t e solution i s a d d e d until a pH
of a p p r o x i m a t e l y 4. 0 i s a t t a i n e d d u r i n g s w e e p agitation.
The a l u m i n u m s a l t h y d r o l y z e s in the p e c t i n l i q u o r f o r f o r m a
b a s i c s a l t that s t a y s i n solution until the pH r e a c h e s 3. 5,
when a l u m i n u m hydroxide f o r m s . T h i s c o l l o i d a l a l u m i n u m
hydroxide then c o - p r e c i p i t a t e s with the p e c t i n i n the f o r m of
a y e l l o w i s h - g r e e n c u r d : About the s i z e and s h a p e of an
a p r i c o t s e e d , with the f e e l of waxy modeling c l a y just too
wet to c r u m b l e .

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 10. P r e c i p i t a t e is s e p a r a t e d f r o m the m o t h e r l i q u o r i n a r e e l a n d
the effluent i s piped to a r e f u s e s u m p .

11. T h e " g r e e n p e c t i n " p r e c i p i t a t e i s p u m p e d to c y l i n d r i c a l s c r e e n ,

r o t a t i n g p r e s s e s which h a v e a c e n t r a l t u b u l a r , n e o p r e n e a i r
bag. H e r e i n twelve o r m o r e s u c c e s s i v e p r e s s i n g s with d e -
flation and t u r n i n g , to r e d i s t r i b u t e the c a k e m a s s p r i o r to e a c h
p r e s s i n g , additional l i q u o r i s r e m o v e d until t h e p r e s s i s opened
a n d the p e c t i n c a k e ( a t 85-90 p e r c e n t m o i s t u r e ) i s d r o p p e d to
a b r e a k e r and coveyed to s h r e d d e r s .

12. F r o m t h e s h r e d d e r s , the p e c t l n d r o p s Into a n alcohol r l n s e

tank dnd then I S p u m p e d thmugh a continuous centrifuge w h e r e
the a l c o h o l i s s e p a r a t e d a n d along wlth a l l o t h e r a l c o h o l
r e c o v e r e d In the p r o c e s s , ~ t 1s p u m p e d ~ n ~ t l a l ltoy the n e u t r a l l z -
lng tanks and then to the alcohol r e c o v e r y st111 f e e d t a n k s .
I s o p r o p y l alcohol 1s u s ~ dthroughout t h l s p r o c e s s .

T h e r l n s c d , s h r e d d e d p e c t l n I S next c o n v e y t ~ dto the f l r s t a c ~ d -

alcohol mash tank w h e r e ~ t m l x e s with 5570 dlcohol, b 1 /270
h y d r o c h l o r l < d c ~ ddnd 38 1/270 w a t e r a t a pH of approxlrnately 1 . 0 .

Pectlri 1s y ~ e l d e dby the c o m p l e x p r e c l p l t a t e ( p e c t ~ n<ind a l u r r ~ l n u r n

h y d r o x ~ d e )f o l l o w ~ n ga p p l ~ c a t ~ oofn a c l d In d ~ l u t ea l c o h o l , the
pec tlrl ltself being lrlsoluable w h e r e a s the a l u m l n u m c o m p o u n d s
dissolve. When the p r e c ~ p l t a t e1s kept p o r o u s , flnely dlvlded
a n d not too c ompac t , the ~ a s h ~ away n g of n o n - p e c t l n s u b s t a n c e s
1s readlly .tc c o m p l l s h e d .

13. Next c o m e the r o t a t i n g , c:ylindrical, r u b b e r l i n e d w a s h e r s which

have one flclt s i d e with a f i l t e r s c r e e n e d , f a l s e bottom. H e r e the
p e c t i n i s \i?;tshed s e v e n o r m o r e t i m e s to r e m o v e d i s c o l o r a t i o n
and i m p u r i t i e s , with the a c i d - a l c o h o l r i n s e d r a w n off by v a c u u m
a f t e r e a c h welsh. Ammonia i s added to a f r e s h alcohol r i n s e to
obtain a p H of 4. 0 ~ v h i c hi s a n o p t i m u m r e g i o n f o r p r o d u c t
stability.

The d r a l n e d , wet p e c t i n 1s d r o p p e d f r o m the w a s h e r s r e a d y f o r

d r y l n g , d t c r f r e s h alcohol f~nctlr l n s e s .

P e c t i n d e s t i n e d f o r s l o w - s e t m a t e r i a l i s held In a h e a t e d a c i d -
a l c o h o l , r e t a r d a t i o n tank a f t e r the f i r s t wash f o r a n extended
t i m e b e f o r e additional wash c y c l e s .

14. T h e p e c t ~ n( a t a p p r o x i m a t e l y 60 p e r c e n t r n o i s t u r c ) i s then
conveyed to the p r i i n < t r y d r y e r which i s ;t s t a t i o n a r y ,

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 hot w a t e r jacketed, batch- type v a c u u m d r y e r which h a s a
c e n t r a l , horizontal shaft with a n i n t e r r u p t e d ribbon-type
a g i t a t o r . T h r e e h o u r s a t 7 7 O ~ ,. a n d 20 - 2 5 i n c h v a c u u m
r e d u c e s t h e p e c t i n m o l s t u r e c o n t e n t f r o t n 60 t o 30 p e r c e n t .

15. Now t h e p a r t i a l l y d r i e d p r o d u c t 1s c o n v e y e d t o t h e secondary

d r y e r f o r a n o t h e r t h r e e h o u r s a t 7 7 O C . , a n d 20 - 25 inch
vacuum in a multiple, clrcular t r a y arrangement with c o n -
s t a n t agitation u n t i l discharged a t 7 to 10 p e r c e n t molsture.

16. D r y , unclassified p r o d u c t 1s t h e n s c r e e n e d a n d c o a r s e ~ n a t e r i n l
( p l u s 1 4 m e s h ) I S r e t u r n e d t o t h e extraction p r o c e s s . I n t e r -
mediate m a t e r ~ a l( m i n u s 1 4 t o p l u s 60 m e s h ) 1s c h u t e d t o
H a m m e r - M ~ l l sa n d r e c l r c u l a t e d u n t l l a l l m a t e r l a l p a s s l n g
t h r o u g h t h e 60 m e s h s c r e e n 1s b a r r e l e d a s g r a n u l a r , f l n l s h e d
u n s t a n d a r d ~ z e dp r o d u c t . A l l d u s t c o l l e c t e d In f l l t e r s o n t h e
a l r c o n v e y o r s y s t e m I S r e t u r n e d to t h e e ~ t r ~ ~ c t pl roonc e s s .

17. G r a n u l a r p r o d u c t 1s c o n v e y e d t o b l e n d e r f e e d - h o p p e r s w h e r e
b a t c h e s of 2400 p o u n d s a r e b l e n d e d t h e n pdc kcd In f l b c r d r u m s
f o r s t o r a g e . L a b o r a t o r y a n a y l s l s of e a c h b a t c h d e t e r r n l n c s
the blcndlng r e q u l r e d f o r f u t u r e s t a n d a r d l ~ l n g .

P L A N T CAPACITY

Wlth a m o n t h l y p r o d u c t l o n of o v e r 100 t o n s of c ~ m r n e r c l ~pi el c t l n

wlh~chs e l l s a t $1. 35 t o $2. 20 pclr p o u n d , t h l s o p e r d t ~ o na s s u m e s t h e
s t a t u s of a l a r g e a n d relatively s t a b l e p r o d u c t l o n p l a n t . A p r o g r a m of
c o n s t a n t improvement In m e t h o d a n d equipment h + s .n~ d ~ e t posslble
f o r t h l s p l a n t t o n l d l n t a l n ~ t ps r ~ l n cp o s l t l o n . C u r r e n t p l a n n ~ n g1s
d l r e c t e d t o w a r d converting a l l b d t c h l n g operations t o continuous f l o u
processes.

WASTE DISPOSAL

As wlth m o s t food p r o c e s s o p ~ r ~ t t l o n st h, e r e 1s < onslder,tble

p r o b l e m with d i s p o s a l of \ \ n s t e p r o d u c t s . W c h a v ? :

1. F l u m e , w a s h a n d r l n s e ~ ~ ~ a t e r s - - T h e<si ree d l r e c t e d t o d c o m p ~ i n )
" F a r m " w h e r e t r a c t o r s with s p e c l a 1 f u r r o m c u t t i n g devlc e s p r t -
p a r e f l e l d s f o r r e c e l v ~ n gt l i ~ sw a t e r . Wht.11 o n e ~ i r c 11,~s ~ i t,ec>ri
s a t u r a t e d a n d t h e e a r t h p l u g s u l t h f l b r d - l s m , i t e r ~ a l .t h l s a r e a
1s t h e n t u r n e d a n d a c r o p of c o r n 1s g r o w n .

2. S p e n t f i l t e r a i d i s d i s c a r d e d t o a w a s t e p i l e in t h e p l a n t y a r d .
F o r t y - p l u s - y e a r s h a s c r e a t e d s e v e r a l a c r e s of a t ~ , e n t yfoot
deep fill.

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 3. Highly c o n t a m i n a t e d w a s t e s f r o m the alcohol r e c o v e r y e q u i p m e n t
( " s t i l l b o t t o m s " ) a n d f r o m the w a t e r t r e a t m e n t e q u i p m e n t a r e
loaded i n tank t r u c k s and d e l i v e r e d to the county t r e a t m e n t plant
f o r d i s p o s a l . T h i s high C . 0. D. m a t e r i a l h a s b e e n a g r e a t p r o -
blem f o r many y e a r s .

4. A t m o s p h e r i c e x h a u s t s a r e not a m a j o r p r o b l e m . Alcohols a r e
r e c o v e r e d , d u s t s a r e c o l l e c t e d a n d r e t u r n e d to e x t r a c t i o n and
o t h e r v e n t s a r e s c r u b b e d a s found n e c e s s a r y .

P E C T I N F R O M ORANGE AND G R A P E F R U I T P E E L

When l e m o n s a r e s c a r c e , t h i s p e c t i n r e c o v e r y plant o p e r a t e s on
o r a n g e o r g r a p e f r u i t p e e l if i t i s a v a i l a b l e . A c c o r d i n g to the p r o d u c t i o n
m a n a g e r , t h e r e i s v e r y l i t t l e d i f f e r e n c e i n o p e r a t i n g t h i s plant on the
a l t e r n a t e p e e l , p e c t i n y i e l d i s g r e a t e r h o w e v e r on l e m o n and l i m e .

DRIED P E C T I N P E E L

S u r p l u s l e m o n p e e l i s t r u c k e d to one o r m o r e o u t s l d e p r o c e s s i n g
plants where p a r t o r all i s washed, d r i e d and sold a s d r i e d c i t r u s
p e c t i n p e e l , f o r f u t u r e p e c t i n r e c o v e r y p r o c e s s i n g in d o m e s t i c o r
foreign operations.

D r i e d c i t r u s p e c t i n p e e l h a s c o m e into d e m a n d i n the w o r l d m a r k e t
a s p e c t i n p r o d u c e r s ( p r i n c i p a l l y E u r o p e a n ) s e e k input m a t e r i a l to
o p e r a t e t h e i r p e c t i n r e c o v e r y p l a n t s off- s e a s o n to t h e i r l o c a l m a t e r i a l
supply, which i s g e n e r a l l y a p p l e s . W i t h s o m e p r i c e s c o r l t r a c t e d a t
above $150.00 p e r ton, t h i s b y - p r o d u c t b e c o m e s a n i n t e r e s t i n g and
a t t r a c t i v e b y - p r o d u c t f o r a c i t r u s p r o c e s s i n g plant.

D R I E D P E C T I N P E E L P R O D U C T I O N IN F L O R I D A

In F l o r i d a , s e v e r a l p r o c e s s i n g p l a n t s o v e r the p a s t few y e a r s h a v e
p r o d u c e d d r i e d p e c t i n p e e l , g e n e r a l l y f o r e x p o r t to E u r o p e . S u c c e s s -
ful r u n s a p p e a r to s c a l e down in the o r d e r a s l i s t e d :

1. Lime peel
2. "Trul' lemon peel
3. Grapefruit peel (no r a g o r c o r e )
4. Orange peel (no rag o r c o r e )
5. G r a p e f r u i t o r o r a n g e with r a g and c o r e s
6. " M e y e r s " type l e m o n p e e l

T h e o r d e r above l n d l c a t e d f o r lnput materials r e f l e c t s p r o b l e m s i n

p r o c e s s i n g grapefruit, o r a n g e a n d " M e y e r s " type l e m o n p e e l . It d o e s
not n e c e s s a r i l y i n d l c a t e the r e l a t l v e pectln content In the o r d e r shown.

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 B a s i c a l l y , the p r o d u c t i o n of d r i e d c i t r u s p e c t i n p e e l i s a s i m p l e
p r o c e s s . It i s n e c e s s a r y only to s h r e d , w a s h a n d d r y the p e e l f r o m
l i m e , l e m o n , o r a n g e o r g r a p e f r u i t . Chopping o r s h r e d d i n g c a n be
a c c o m p l i s h e d i n v a r i o u s t y p e s of m a c h i n e s ; s h r e d d e r s , h a m m e r m i l l s
with l a r g e s i z e d g r i d s , s l i c e r s , e t c . D r y i n g of the p e e l to l e s s t h a n
eight p e r c e n t m o i s t u r e content i s s i m i l a r to n o r m a l d r y i n g of c i t r u s
pulp f o r f e e d e x c e p t that d r y e r t e m p e r a t u r e s m u s t be k e p t low to p r e -
vent s c o r c h i n g any of the p e c t i n p e e l . T h e light fluffy p e e l r u n s about
t w o - t h i r d s the d e n s i t y of n o r m a l c i t r u s pulp.

T h e g r e a t e s t p r o b l e m i n p r o d u c i n g the d r i e d p e c t i n p e e l i s found
i n the p e e l washing p r o c e s s .

T Y P I C A L DRIED P E C T I N P E E L L I N E ( R e f e r to F i g u r e 2 . )

L e t ' s walk t h r u a s i m p l e p e c t i n p e e l p r o c e s s p l a n t to s e e what i s

involved.

F i r s t \ + e flnd n s h r e d d e r to chop p e e l Into chunks o r s t r l p s with a

m i u l i n u m a m o u n t of f ~ n e sp r o d u c e d . P l e c e s of p e e l ~ i v e r a g l n gno
1 Lrger than one-half lnc 11 d l n m e t e r a r e m o s t effectively p r o c e s s e d .

?Yo\\ the chopped p e e l d r o p s Into a w a s h l n g - m l x e r u h e r e second

r l n s c l l q u o r 1s ~ n l x e dto p r o d u c e a thin s l u r r y , r l n s l n g s o m e of the
s u g a r s f r o m the p e e l .

T h l s s l u r r y 1s then p u m p e d to t h e f i r s t p r e s s a n d the t ~ l c eu s e d
r l n s e l l q u o r 1s no\\ r e m o v e d . It 1s a d d e d to n o r m a l p r e s s l i q u o r feed
t o tht. nol lasses e v a p o r a t o r .

P r e s s ( <tke i rorn the f l r s t p r e s s d r o p s Into the f l n < ~uln s h l n g - m l x e r

\ , h i . r e f r e s h w a t e r 1s ddded f o r n f l n a l r l n s e . T h l s s l u r r y 1s p u m p e d
I n t o the flnal p r e s s <-lndthe r l n s e l l q u o r relmoved 1s p u m p e d to the f l r s t
\ . \ ~ i s h ? n g - m l x efro r c o u n t e r - f l o w s e c o n d u s e . T h e p r e s s c a k e i s t h e n
m e t e r e d Into a c l t r u s pulp d r y e r w h e r e ~ t 1s d r i c d d o ~ i nto belom elght
perc ent ~ n o l s t u r e , c ooled crnd bagged o r p l a c e d I n bulk s t o r a g e . T h l s
d r l e d pectln peel 1s non r e a d y f o r s h i p m e n t to a p e c t i n r e c o v e r ) plant.

Nolv e a c h p e c t i n p e e l d r y i n g o p e r a t i o n h a s i t s v a r i a t i o n s a s d i c -
t a t e d by the p e e l to be p r o c e s s e d a n d by the e q u i p m e n t a v a i l a b l e o r
s e l e c t e d . Some p l a n t s , p a r t i c u l a r l y on l i m e a n d l e m o n u s e r e e l s
r a t h e r than p r e s s e s i n washing the p e e l . H e r e they g e n e r a l l y h a v e a
f i r m p e e l with a l i t t l e s u g a r to be w a s h e d o u t .

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 PRESS PROBLEMS

T h e l o g l c a l ~ n c t h o df o r r e l n o v l n g ~ a t e fr r o m t h e p e e l a f t e r w a s h i n g
i s by m e a n s of a s c r v w p r e s s o r o t h e r p r e s s l n g p r o c e s s . T h l s p r e s s -
lng c a n b e c o m e a g r e a t p r o b l e m w h e r e soft p e e l . r a g o r pulp i s involved.

1 h a v e o p e r c i t e d o n e p e e l l i n e \ v h e r e l n i t l a l l y we h a d a s i x - s t a g e
c o u n t e r - f l o w \vashing l i n e with s i x s c r e \ v p r e s s e s . With s o f t p e e l a n d
p u l p , we f o u n d t h a t \se c o u l d not o p e r a t e s a t i s f a c t o r i l y e v e n w h e n r e -
d u c e d t o j u s t tx.0 s t a g e s . T w o m a j o r p r e s s p r o b l e m s d e v e l o p e d :

1. On r e a s o n a b l y f l r r m p e e l t h e p r e s s e s g r o u n d m u c h of t h l s p e e l
p a r t l c l e s u n t ~ la f t e r S I X p r c s s l n g s , w e h d d l e s s t h a n 20 p e r c e n t
of t h e ~ n p u tp c ~ e lc o m i n g t h r o u g h . T h y g r o u ~ i dp e e l j o l n e d t h e
l l q u o r a n d p r o d u c e d a 5 ) r u p y 5 l u r r y mhlt h \ \ < i s t h e n unsuitable
f o r evaporation t o m o l ~ i s s e s ;11 \\,is p l a c e d In ldrld fill s u m p .

2. Wlth s o f t p e e l t h e p r c , s s e s \\oiilcl p l u g ,ill 5 6 , 0 0 0 h o l e s w i t h i n a

f e \ \ m l r i u t c s ,*nd 11,ivc. dysc.ntel-\ 1111til the, t l b e r s t r d n d s w e r e
clc'lned f r o m the lioles.

O n e a f t e r n o o n \\e h a d b e t ~ n~ p c r ~ i t ~r ~n ~q i s o n a b l\ \ye l l f o r d f e w h o u r s
on " T r u - L c ~ n o n' p e e l f r o m c~ j u i t i 1 > r o c ~ s s o\r< h e n I o b s e r v c d l o a d of
\vet pec.1 j u s t dellvc~rc.tl\ \ h i ( h !I LC! ~ 1 ~ ) 1 ) 1 . ~ ~ \ 1 1 125 1 ~ tpt et l.y~e n t p e e l f r o m
s o f t M e y e r s t ) pc lrlnion rl-iixc~ti\\ ith t h c ) " T r u - L r . ~ n o n " . When t h l s s o f t
p e e l r e a c h e d t h e f l r s t p r e s s ~ t took l e s s thcin t\\t,nty unlnutes f o r t h e
s c r e v n to f l l l 1 ~ 1 t hi l b e r s tnri \top < i l l p r c s s < t c t l o n . W e h a d t o s h u t
damn ( l e a n - u p ,inti \\ ilt lor f l r n i pct.1.

P E C T I N PEEL LINE NOTES

B a s e d on t h e \ ~ ~ r l t e r e' xs p e ric,nc .t a n d a s s e m b l a g e of r e l a t e d i n f o r m a -
t l o n , t h e f o l l o u i n g p o l n t s a p p e d r to b e ~ m p o r t a n tf o r producing d r i e d
cltrus pectln peel:

1. A f l r m p e e l u l t h < i t-nlnlimuln of p u l p , pulpy t o r e a n d r a g 1s b e s t

s u l t e d f o r \ \ , i s h l n g . Whllt. t h e r e m a y b e <is m u c h o r m o r e p e c t ~ n
In t h e c o r e d n d r n g , i t c onlpllc < ~ t t > t hse \ \ , t s h l n g p r o c e s s d n d c a n
C a u s e g r e c t t dlfflc t i l t )

2. P r e s s e s l f u s e d nus st bc. gr,iitlt, , i n d i < i r e f u l l y < ~ d j i l s t etdo p r e v e n t

g r i n d l n g of p e e l <ind t o p r e v e n t b l l n d l n g w ~ t hf i b e r .

3. W a s t e e f f l u e n t ctin g r , n e r c ~ l l yb c a d d e d t o l c c d m l l l p r e s s l l q u o r a n d
r e d u c e d to c ~ t r u sr - n o l n s s r ~ s . T h l s e f f l u e n t (-<inbecorne A. p u l p y ,
p e c t l n o u s s l u r r y when s o f t o r pulpy pec.1 is r u n . U n d e r thesc-
t o n d l t l o n s 11 r n ~ i yc r ~ ~ i t eg r v < ~cti ~ s p o s s ~ p
<I. i lr o b l e n l .

4. Glven s t e C a d ys u p p l y of good f l r m p e e l a n t i a s l ~ n p l ep e e l \ v a s h ~ n g
l l n e of e q i ~ ~ p ~ n e ~nttI,S p o s s l b l c t o p r o d u c e dr1c.d c i t r u s p e c t ~ n
p e e l of 1 5 t o L O p e r c e n t p e c t l n contt,nt. 87.

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 F i g u r e 1.
Pectin Production F r o m Lemons
Schematic Flow Diagram

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 CITRUS PEEL I ST RINSE PRESS LIQUOR

1
(7) SCREW PRESS

TO MOLASSES
EVAPORATOR OR
t WASHED
PULP

TO WASTE WASHING M I X E R

r
F E E D SCREW
I I

--
--
CITRUS P U L P
DIRECT F I R E DRYER

i- -- PECTIN PEEL
T O BAGS OR O T H E R
CONTAINER

F i g u r e 2.
Dried Pectin Peel F r o m Citrus
Schematic Flow Diagram

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