Analysis of the raw material base for pectin production

Abstract

The addition of pectin to food products is important because this natural polysaccharide plays a key role in improving the quality and stability of the product, it allows for high-quality preservation of products that have a long shelf life, which is important for the health and wellbeing of consumers. The purpose of the study is to investigate the main raw materials of plant origin for the synthesis of pectin, which can be used as a promising raw material for food industry enterprises in Ukraine. The study was carried out using various methods of analysis, a thorough comparative analysis of papers by Ukrainian and foreign researchers, which are published in the scientometric databases Scopus, Web of Science, Journal Citation Reports, Scimago Journal & Country Rank, and Google Scholar. Based on the results of analytical studies, the main raw materials used for the production of pectin and pectin-containing pastes were analysed, and the main problems of the production process were identified. It has been found that adding pectin to food products can have a significant number of benefits: increasing the viscosity of the product, which is useful for creating a thick texture of the product; increasing the resistance of the product to heat treatment, reducing the risk of product separation or quality degradation; increasing functionality; introducing it into products can help improve the consistency and appearance of the product, add taste and color properties, and reduce the amount of sugar that must be added to the product to ensure viscosity and taste. It is established that the main raw material for the production of pectin in Ukraine is apple fruits. It is proven that pectin can be obtained from other fruits, berries, and vegetables, such as gooseberries, currants, cherries, pumpkins, etc. The intensification of the pectin production process should provide the population with a high-quality product that will prevent various types of intoxication by removing radionuclides from the body and contribute to the recovery of people in the post-war period. The practical significance of this study lies in the ability to help manufacturers find optimal sources of raw materials with a high pectin content to ensure the quality of the final product. In addition, this study will also facilitate the development of appropriate technological solutions for the optimal process of producing pectin from the selected raw materials