Concentration and Purifi cation of Yacon (Smallanthus sonchifolius) Root Fructooligosaccharides Using Membrane Technology

• Main Authors: Isabel Cristina Tessaro, Caciano Pelayo Zapata Noreña, Maria Julia Ledur Alles
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: University of Zagreb 2015-01-01
• Series: Food Technology and Biotechnology
• Subjects: yacon; fructooligosaccharides; purification; ultrafiltration; nanofiltration
• Online Access: http://hrcak.srce.hr/file/206920

Yacon is a perennial plant originating from the Andean region whose roots have been receiving increased att ention due to their high content of prebiotic fructooligosaccharides (FOS). Apart from many health benefi ts, FOS have interesting characteristics as food ingredients, so are used as sugar substitute, and their extraction from yacon roots may be an alternative to commercially available FOS. This work evaluates membrane technology for concentration and purifi cation of FOS from yacon root extract, combining ultrafiltration (UF) with nanofi ltration (NF), with and without the use of discontinuous diafi ltration (DF). After UF, 63.75 % of the saccharides from the initial feed were recovered in total permeate. DF did not largely infl uence FOS retention during NF (it increased from 68.78 % without DF to 70.48 % with DF), but decreased glucose and fructose retentions, from 40.63 to 31.61 % and 25.64 to 18.69 %, respectively, which was desirable, allowing greater purification of FOS in the retentate. The yield of total saccharides in the final retentate after combined UF and NF processes was 50.89 % and of FOS was 51.85 %, with 19.75 % purity. The results indicate that the combined UF and NF is a promising technique for concentrating yacon saccharides, but more diafi ltration steps are required for the improvement of FOS purity.