Pectinases, or pectinolytic enzymes, are naturally produced by plants, filamentous fungi, bacteria and yeasts. The pectinases are
of great importance to clarify and reduce viscosity in fruit juices, improving and increasing tbe filtration efficiency. When used
in the crushing of grapes or wine must improve juice extraction, reduce the time to clarify and enhance tbe content ofterpenes in
wine. The filamentous fungi most frequently used fur industrial purposes because as much as 90% ofthe enzyme can be excreted
into the culture medium. The partitioning and purification of polygalacturonases (PG) produced by Aspergillus niger URM
5162 were investigated in aqueous two-phase systems (ATPS), furmed by polyetbylene glycol and phosphate salts
(PE(ijlhosphate). To evaluate the effect oftbe 4 independent variables- molar mass ofpolyetbylene glycol (PEG) (400-8000
g1nol MPEG), PEG concentration (12.5-17.5%, w/w- CPEG), phosphate concentration (15-25%, ...W, CPHOS) and pH (6.0, 8.0)
- on the 3 response variables: partition coefficient (K), activity yield (Y) and purification fàctor (PF), a fuctorial design (24) was
used. The endo-polygalacturonases (endo-PG) were prefurentially partitioned in tbe top phase. For endo-PG, the highest values
for the response variables K, Y and PF of 1.23, 74.04% and 8.18, respectively, were obtained for a CPEG of 12.5% (...W), MPEG
of8000 g1nol, and CPHOS of25% (w/w) at pH 6.0. Also, exo-polygalacturonases (exo-PG) were preferentially partitioned in the
top phase. ln tbis case, the highest values ofK (2.40), Y (33.33%), and PF (1.98) were obtained with a MPEG of 8000 g1nol,
CPEG of 12.5% (...W), and CPHOS of25% (...W) at pH 6.0. ln both cases, MPEG had a positive influence on K, Y and PF. The
conditions ofMPEG 8000 g1nol, CPEG of 12.5% (...W), and CPHOS of25% (...W) at pH 6.0 were considered the most suitable
for tbe purification of PG produced by A. niger URM 5162. Furtbermore, MPEG and CPHOS were the most important
independent variables. The PEG/phosphate system is a useful cost-effective altemative for PG purification
