Immobilization of Pectinesterase in Genipin-Crosslinked Chitosan Membrane for Low Methoxyl Pectin Production Adriana Marisol Rangel-Rodríguez & Solans Conxita & Vílchez Susana & Sergio Gabriel Flores-Gallardo & Juan Carlos Contreras-Esquivel & Liliana Licea-Jiménez Received: 15 April 2014 /Accepted: 10 September 2014 # Springer Science+Business Media New York 2014 Abstract In this study, an environmentally friendly method for preparation of chitosan crosslinked membranes with different genipin concentrations (0, 125, 250, and 500 mg/L) was developed. Genipin-crosslinked chitosan membranes were used for the immobilization of fungal pectinesterase (PE). PE was efficiently immobilized in chitosan membranes and used for modification of high-methoxylated pectins into low-methoxylated pectins. The charge density (ζ-potential), infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and ion-exchange chromatography (IEC) revealed the modification of pectin for immobilized PE in genipin-crosslinked chitosan membrane. The ζ-potential results indicated a decrease of -5.2 mV in the pectin control solution, whereas using the PE immobilized in chitosan and genipin-chitosan membranes, the obtained values were -30.45 mV and -36.38 mV, respectively. Genipin-crosslinked chitosan membrane jointly with the immobilized PE represents an eco-friendly support to prepare tailor- made low-methoxylated lime pectin. Keywords Pectinmethylesterase . Genipin . Chitosan . Membrane . Immobilization Introduction The food industry is looking for materials that reduce the pollution levels, energy waste, and economical resources when raw materials are obtained through different processes. In this Appl Biochem Biotechnol DOI 10.1007/s12010-014-1238-y A. M. Rangel-Rodríguez (*) : L. Licea-Jiménez Centro de Investigación en Materiales Avanzados, S.C. (CIMAV), Unidad Monterrey, Alianza Norte 202, 66600 Apodaca, Nuevo León, México e-mail: adriana.rangel@cimav.edu.mx S. Conxita : V. Susana Instituto de Química Avanzada de Cataluña, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (IQAC-CSIC), Barcelona 08034, Spain S. G. Flores-Gallardo Centro de Investigación en Materiales Avanzados, S.C. (CIMAV), Chihuahua 31109 Chihuahua, Mexico J. C. Contreras-Esquivel Research and Development Center, Coyotefoods Biopolymer and Biotechnology Co., Saltillo 25000 Coahuila, Mexico