Patent ID: 8592575

Claim:
A process for extracting pectin having a high degree of polymerization comprising: adding oxalic acid and/or a water-soluble oxalate to an aqueous suspension of a peel in an amount sufficient to provide a mixture having a pH of between 3.0 and 3.6 and a total molarity of oxalate greater than a total molarity of calcium (II) in the peel; heating the mixture to a temperature from about 50 to about 80° C. for a time sufficient to extract a pectin; and separating the extracted pectin from the mixture by precipitating the extracted pectin from the mixture, wherein the extracted pectin has a degree of esterification (DE) of at least 72 and a high degree of polymerization as characterized by an intrinsic viscosity of greater than about 6.5 dL/g.