DEHYDRODIFERULIC ACIDS FROM SUGAR-BEET PULP

Sugar-beet pulp was found to contain dehydrodimers of ferulic acid, wh ich were characterized and quantified by GC and GC-mass spectrometry. These compounds arise from 8-5', 5-5', 8-8' and 8-O-4' coupling, the 8 -5' form being preponderant; no 4-O-5' dimer was detected. Total dehyd rodimers represented 0.14% (w/w) of the pulp. Their release was attemp ted by treatment of the pulp with a commercial pectinase. However, dif erulates were resistant to this enzymic hydrolysis; free diferulic aci ds were not released and remained esterified to residual structures of the sugar-beet pectins. Copyright (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.