Abstract: Polysaccharide purification from the fruit bodies of Hericium erinaceus was studied. Crude polysaccharides were extracted from the fruit bodies of Hericium erinaceus by hot water extraction, decolorized by resin adsorption, and ultrafiltrated for the removal of impurities and fractionation. HD-3 resin was found to be the best resin for polysaccharide decoloriztion among 6 ones under investigation. A decolorization rate of 84.9% and a polysaccharide recovery of 83.2% were obtained after 2.5 h of static decolorization at pH 4.5 and a resin dosage of 1.50 g/100 mL of polysaccharide solution. A flow rate of 5 BV/h for dynamic decolorization resulted in higher decolorization rate and polysaccharide recovery, averaging at 83.9% and 82.3%, respectively. The best ultrafiltration results were obtained by using ultrafiltration membranes with molecular weight cutoff (MSCO) of 10 kD and 100 kD respectively and setting the temperature, pressure and sample solution pH as 45 ℃, 0.16 MPa and 7－9, respectively. A polysaccharide purity of 74.2% was achieved after purification under these conditions. The optimized process could meet the requirements of industrial production.

Key words: Hericium erinaceus, polysaccharide, decolorization by resin adsorption, ultrafiltration