Identification of optimal conditions for the extraction of inulin from chicory

Abstract

The extraction of Inulin with fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS) starting from inulin comprising sources of plant, such as roots of chicory (Cichorium intybus L.) was optimized using a set of optimal extraction conditions. Volume of water (10 to 75 mL), time (10 to 30 min), temperature (30 to 90 °C) on inulin yield were investigated using single regression modelling. Also, the effect of volume of water on Brix index as well as pH of inulin were also examined. From the result, the highest inulin yield was 1.80% when the water volume was 50 mL. Then for the outcome of time of heating on the % yield of Inulin, the highest inulin yield was 1.86% at 20 min. For the outcome of temperature on the % yield of Inulin, the highest inulin yield was 1.83% at 90 °C, and we found that there is a direct relationship between the % yield of Inulin and the temperature. For the effect of solvent content in the Brix Index, the highest Brix index of chicory solution was 9.25 when the water volume was 15 mL. According to the pH values, solutions are acidic. That is, the hydrogen ion concentration is high, and the highest value of pH was 4.25 at 25 mL of water. The food industry would still profit from this novel chicory by-great stock availability and cheap cost as an alternate and significant source of inulin and FOS.