Optimization of an enzyme assisted banana pulp clarification process

The study was initiated to optimize the enzymatic clarification process of banana pulp of maturity stage 6 using response surface methodology. Banana pulp was treated with pectinase enzyme (Pectinex Ultra SP-L) at various concentrations (0.05-0.15%), incubation temperature (30-50°C) and time (60-180 min) of treatment. The effect of these enzymatic conditions on per cent juice yield, viscosity of banana pulp and clarity of banana juice were studied by employing Central Composite Design. Significant regression model describing the changes of juice yield, viscosity and clarity of juice with respect to hydrolysis parameters were established with the coefficient of determination, R2 = 0.9851, 0.9883 and 0.9679, respectively. Based on response surface and desirability graph, the optimum conditions for clarification of banana pulp were: 0.12% enzyme concentration, 38.84°C incubation temperature and 136.52 min of incubation time resulted juice yield, viscosity of pulp and clarity of juice under above conditions were 64.76%, 450.20 cps and 84.56%, respectively.