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 °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 °C.