Importance

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Abstract

Gelatin, having high Bloom or gel strength in excess of 300, is extracted from fish, with high yield, by pre-treating collagen rich fish skins with a limewater (Ca(OH).sub.2) solution suspension with a concentration of between 19 gm of Ca(OH).sub.2 /liter of water/kg of tilapia fish skin to 100 gm Ca(OH).sub.2 /liter of water/kg of fish skin for a period of time between ten to sixty days and optimally between two to four weeks. For fish with higher percentage of fat content, a minimum concentration is at least 50 gm of Ca(OH).sub.2 /liter of water/kg of fish skin to avoid putrefaction. For fish with easily extractable gelatin, such as Nile perch, soaking time is from 3 to 10 days with a concentration of Ca(OH).sub.2 /liter of water of about 15 gm. At concentrations above 100 gm of Ca(OH).sub.2 /liter of water/kg of fish skin and/or treatment time periods in excess of four weeks, Bloom strength dramatically decreases. Acid treatment followed by additional limewater treatment restores Bloom strength lost by excessively long initial limewater treatment.

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First Claim