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 possib le to prepare a dry powder of soluble collagen with good viscoelastic and g elling properties, which can be converted into gelatin by dissolving at tem peratures above 45 degrees C. Physical properties of gelatins are influence d more by extracting conditions than by imino acid composition. A high-qual ity, readily-dissolved gelatin was obtained from megrim skins using a pretr eatment of the skins with NaCl and dilute NaOH, then swelling with 0.05 M a cetic acid followed by an extraction step in water at 45 degrees C.