Cacao pod husks ( Theobroma cacao L.): Composition and hot-water-soluble pectins

► The main waste product of cocoa production is cacao pod husk (CPH). ► Significant proportions of fibers were found. Phenolics are also present. ► Among the minerals, there was a predominance of potassium. ► Hot-water extracts from CPH yielded LM pectins highly acetylated. ► CPH seems be a potential source of fibers, including pectins, and also phenolics. ► The pectins from hot-water extracts from CPH showed different rheological properties. The composition of cacao pod husks (CPHs), the main waste product of cocoa production, and some of the characteristics of their water-soluble pectins were investigated. Milled and dried CPHs were submitted to hot aqueous extractions (50 and 100 ̊C, 90 min, 1:25, w/v). The obtained fractions (labeled 50W and BW, respectively) yielded 7.5 and 12.6% pectins, respectively. The monosaccharide composition revealed the predominance of uronic acid, followed by galactose, rhamnose and arabinose, characteristic of pectins. Chemical and spectroscopic analyses (FT-IR and 13C NMR) showed that both fractions contained high acetyl contents (DA 29.0 and 19.2%, respectively) and are composed of low methoxyl homogalacturonans (DE 37.0 and 42.3%, respectively) with rhamnogalacturonan insertions carrying side chains containing mainly galactose. Rheological analyses were carried out with 50W and BW. Solutions of both fractions at 5% (w/v) had a non-Newtonian shear-thinning behavior, however that of 50W showed higher apparent viscosity than that of BW. Dynamic oscillatory analyses showed that 5% (w/w) 50W pectin had weak gel behavior whereas at the same concentration, BW pectin behaved as a concentrated solution. Although further investigations are required, CPH seems be a potential source of both pectins and other natural agents such as fibers and phenolics, and its use is particularly justified by growing environmental awareness.