Extraction of pectin from Ethiopian prickly pear fruit peel and its potency for preparing of cellulose-reinforced biofilm

The objective of this research was to extract and characterize the pectin from the fruit peels of Ethiopian prickly pears (EPP) (Opuntia ficus-indica) using microwave assisted method. Solution pH and microwave potential were optimized using different pH values (1, 3, and 4) and power (300, 400, and 500 W), respectively, to extract ameliorated pectin yield. The pectin yield for EPP varied between 2.3 and 10.0 %. At a pH of 1.0 with 400 microwave intensity, the highest yield was seen. The extracted pectin from EPP had a 25.16 % ash content; however, the pectin sample contained less water and weighed less than the control sample. Further, transforming the acquired pectin from EPP was used to prepare biofilm reinforced by cellulose. Film was prepared using the casting method. It was aimed to provide a new function to EPP waste for preparing the biofilms by developing with the use of cellulose-reinforced modification to ameliorate the mechanical property Therefore, with further optimization and improvements, EPP-F could be used for nonstructural applications, such as a sustainable food packaging material.