Abstract: Beet pulp is reduced to small particle size and hydrolyzed in HCl at a low temperature for a long time and then peptized in hot water at 60.degree.-70.degree. C. for about one hour to produce an aqueous pulp slurry that is screened to recover the liquid which is filtered and mixed with aluminum chloride to lower the pH about 0.1 pH unit to the range of 1.8-2.25 pH. Ammonium hydroxide is then added to raise the pH to about 4.0-4.5 to form an aluminum pectinate precipitate, which is washed with an acidified alcoholic liquid to produce high-to-medium methoxyl pectin which is separated and dried to a stable powder. Waste streams are converted to animal feed or are recovered and recycled.