ACTIVATED PECTIN-CONTAINING BIOMASS COMPOSITIONS, PRODUCTS, AND METHODS OF PRODUCING

Methods for producing an activated pectin-containing biomass composition are provided. The method includes (A) mixing a starting pectin-containing biomass material comprising an insoluble fiber component and an insoluble protopectin component with an aqueous solution of an alcohol to form a mixture; (B) activating the starting pectin-containing biomass material to form an activated pectin-containing biomass material comprising the insoluble fiber component and a soluble pectin component by subjecting the starting pectin-containing biomass material to (i) an activating solution formed by adding acid to the mixture to adjust the pH of the mixture within the range from at or about 0.5 to at or about 2.5 and (ii) heat to a temperature greater than at or about 40 degrees Celsius; and (C) applying mechanical energy either (i) to the mixture of step A), (ii) during the activating of step B), or (iii) to the mixture of step A) and during the activating of step B); and (D) separating the activated pectin-containing biomass material from the mixture; wherein during the method the alcohol present in the mixture is at or greater than about 40 weight percent based on the total weight of the mixture. Activated pectin-containing biomass compositions are also provided. La presente invención se refiere a métodos para producir una composición de biomasa que contiene pectina activada. El método incluye (A) mezclar un material de biomasa que contiene pectina inicial que comprende un componente de fibra insoluble y un componente de protopectina insoluble con una solución acuosa de un alcohol para formar una mezcla; (B) activar el material de biomasa que contiene pectina inicial para formar un material de biomasa que contiene pectina activada que comprende el componente de fibra insoluble y un componente de pectina soluble al someter el material de biomasa que contiene pectina inicial a (i) una solución activadora formada al agregar ácido a la mezcla para ajustar el pH de la mezcla dentro del intervalo de en o aproximadamente 0.5 a en o aproximadamente 2.5 y (ii) calentar a una temperatura mayor que en o aproximadamente 40 grados Celsius; y (C) aplicar energía mecánica ya sea (i) a la mezcla del paso A), (ii) durante la activación del paso B), o (iii) a la mezcla del paso A) y durante la activación del paso B); y (D) separar el material de biomasa que contiene pectina activada de la mezcla; donde durante el método el alcohol presente en la mezcla es en o mayor que aproximadamen