Synergistic effects of chemical-free hydrothermal pretreatment on the recovery of cellulosic sugars and pectin from sugar mill-derived sugar beet pulp

Sugar mills processing sugar beet generate large amounts of sugar beet pulp (SBP), a carbohydrate-rich byproduct composed of 22–30 % cellulose, 24–32 % hemicellulose, and 15–20 % pectin. Mild, chemical-free hydrothermal pretreatment offers a promising approach to recover these compounds while minimizing pectin degradation, reducing chemical use, and lowering operating costs for value-added applications. This study evaluates the effects of chemical-free hydrothermal pretreatment on cellulosic sugars recovery and its synergy with subsequent pectin extraction under pretreatment conditions ranging from 80°C to 120°C for 15–45 min. Results show that increasing pretreatment severity preserved most glucans with 4 % decrease in galacturonan content. Optimal pretreatment (100°C for 45 min) followed by enzymatic hydrolysis achieved the best glucose (92 %) and pentose (74 %) yields, while galacturonan remained concentrated in the residual solids. Subsequent citric acid extraction at 80°C for 3 hr and a solid-to-liquid ratio of 1:15 yielded up to 85 % pectin, significantly lowering water, chemical, and energy requirements compared to conventional industrial operations. The integration of mild hydrothermal pretreatment with enzymatic hydrolysis thus maximized sugar recovery and enabled efficient downstream pectin extraction without compromising product yields. These findings advance low-impact valorization strategies to reinforce SBP’s values in biorefinery. • Hydrothermal pretreatment enabled sustainable sugar beet pulp (SBP) deconstruction. • Controlled severity preserved pectin while improving enzyme accessibility. • SBP hydrothermal pretreatment at mild conditions resulted in 95 % glucose yield. • Hydrothermal pretreatment facilitates sequential pectin recovery up to 93 % yield. • Hydrothermal pretreatment reduces energy, and solvent addition for pectin recovery.