Banana Stems Could Provide Affordable, Versatile Pectin for Food Industry
Banana pectin was extracted from the underground stem of banana plants. The researchers studied the best conditions for extraction to get the most pectin. They analyzed the structure of the pectin and used it to make pineapple jam, testing its texture and viscosity. The banana pectin had a high yield and contained around 60% methylation and over 70% anhydro uronic acid. Its composition was similar to pectin from other sources.