D-(+)-Galacturonic acid monohydrate

D-(+)-Galacturonic acid (GalA) is an oxidized form of the monosaccharide D-galactose, a component of the disaccharide lactose and the major component of pectin. This cyclic form can take two configurations, α-D-galacturonic acid or the β-epimer.

GalA is the primary building block and structure-giving element of pectin and other biopolymers found throughout the plant kingdom. Pectin is found in the cell walls of all plant tissues and functions as an intercellular connecting material. It is especially abundant (≈30 wt%) in citrus rinds; but it is also commercially sourced from apples, spinach, sugarbeets, and other fruits and vegetables. Pectins main use is as a gelling or filling agent in foods such as jellies, jams, desserts, and candies and as a stabilizer in juices and milk-based drinks.

This GalA product is highly purified form Pectine. It is used in the synthesis of N-(D-galacturonoyl) amino acids and dipeptides. It can also be used as a reference compound for the quantification of the analyte. Potential applications are in the fermentative production of ethanol.