Extracting conditions for megrim (Lepidorhombus boscii) skin collagen affect functional properties of the resulting gelatin

Various procedures for extracting collagen and/or gelatin from megrim skins were compared on the basis of gelatin functional properties. It was possible to prepare a dry powder of soluble collagen with good viscoelastic and gelling properties, which can be converted into gelatin by dissolving at temperatures above 45 degrees C. Physical properties of gelatins are influenced more by extracting conditions than by imino acid composition. A high-quality, readily-dissolved gelatin was obtained from megrim skins using a pretreatment of the skins with NaCl and dilute NaOH, then swelling with 0.05 M acetic acid followed by an extraction step in water at 45 degrees C.