Increasing the radioprotective properties of pectin-containing products from sugar beet pulp through the discrete-pulse energy input principle

Under the conditions of the ongoing war in Ukraine, accompanied by continuous attacks on nuclear facilities, the risks of radioactive contamination by radionuclides have significantly increased, posing a serious threat to human life and public health. One of the approaches to addressing this problem is the use of low-esterified pectin as a dietary supplement, since it performs the function of a radioprotector in the human body and significantly reduces the risks of radiation-related diseases. Sugar beet pulp is currently considered a valuable source of such pectin. The organization of its industrial-scale processing requires the implementation of new energy-efficient equipment as well as the optimization of existing technologies in accordance with modern requirements. In the context of solving this problem, the authors proposed novel heat-and-mass-transfer equipment operating on the principle of discrete-pulse energy input (DPEI), implemented in rotor-pulsation-type equipment. It has been proven that, owing to the processes of dispersion, mixing, heating, dissolution, hydrolysis, and extraction realized in this equipment, it became possible to increase the efficiency of pectin extraction. Optimal process conditions were determined, under which a 97% extraction degree was achieved.