Enhancing Saccharide Extraction from Konjac by Microwave-assisted Acid Hydrolysis

Abstract

This article presents a study on the use of microwave-assisted acid hydrolysis to produce glucomannan oligosaccharides from konjac powder. Acid hydrolysis is a well-established method for the depolymerization of polysaccharides. This study aims to optimize the conditions of acid hydrolysis using microwave radiation to achieve high yields and specific saccharide sizes. Konjac powder was hydrolyzed using hydrochloric acid in a microwave digestion instrument. The optimal conditions for hydrolysis were determined based on previous research, and the resulting soluble oligosaccharides were purified by ethanol precipitation. The carbohydrate content and size distribution of the hydrolyzed products were analyzed by using phenol-sulfuric acid assay and size exclusion chromatography, respectively. This study showed that microwave-assisted acid hydrolysis is a promising method for the preparation of glucomannan oligosaccharides from konjac powder, offering advantages such as shorter reaction time and lower acid catalyst requirement. The results contribute to the understanding of konjac powder hydrolysis and provide insights for the development of efficient and sustainable production processes for glucomannan oligosaccharides.