The waste streams of interest for the PRO-SUGAR project are those rich in the plant cell wall component pectin. As such, residual organic material from juice and vegetable processing industries, such as apple pomace or sugar beet pulp, are of special interest in this project. Prior to its bioconversion to industrially relevant polyhydroxy acids, D-galacturonic acid, the main sugar component of these biomasses, has to be extracted via enzymatic depolymerization. The polyhydroxy acids generated from galacturonic acid share key structural characteristics of conventionally produced acidifiers, stabilizers and leavening agents found in cosmetics and food applications today and have the additional potential to introduce new functional properties. Due to their environmentally friendly method of production from renewable resources, they furthermore generate additional ecological benefits.

This project is funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF)