Submitted to: Book Chapter
Publication Type: Book / Chapter
Publication Acceptance Date: July 20, 2010
Publication Date: December 1, 2010
Citation: Fishman, M., Cooke, P.H., Hotchkiss, A.T. 2010. Extraction and characterization of sugar beet polysaccharides. In: Cheng, H., et al, editors. Green Polymer Chemistry: Biocatalysis and Biomaterials. Washington, DC: ACS Symposium Series, American Chemical Society. 1043:71-86. Technical Abstract: Sugar Beet Pulp (SBP), contains 65 to 80% (dry weight) of potentially valuable polysaccharides. We separated SBP into three fractions. The first fraction, extracted under acid conditions, was labeled pectin, the second was comprised of two sub fractions solubilized under alkaline conditions and was labeled alkaline soluble polysaccharides (ASP) and part of the remaining fraction was solubilized by derivatizing with carboxy methyl groups (DWCM). We have studied the global structure of these fractions after microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) from fresh sugar beet pulp. MAE was employed to minimize the disassembly and possibly the degradation of these polysaccharides during extraction. Fractions were characterized by their carbohydrate composition, by HPSEC with on-line molar mass and viscosity detection and by imaging with Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM). AFM revealed that pectin formed integrated networks comprised of spheres and strands. ASP aggregated but did not form networks.