PASSION FRUIT BY-PRODUCT: PROCESS DESIGN OF PECTIN PRODUCTION

This work aimed to dimension a processing line for the extraction of pectin from passion fruit peels to the scale-up of an industrial pulp and juice processing plant. Taking into account that a medium-sized industry in Brazil processes 3,000 tons of passion fruit annually, the production of pectin was 23,934.24 kg·year-1, under the extraction conditions of 80 °C, 52.5 min, and 0.0002 mol·L-1 of citric acid. The process includes unit operations such as solid-liquid extraction, filtration, drying, and grinding of the pectin. The calculations of mass balance, energy balance, and the dimensioning of the equipment were made from data provided by the literature and by equipment suppliers. The results achieved help in the implementation of this process on an industrial scale.