Optimization of process parameters for gelatin extraction from the skin of Blackspotted croaker using response surface methodology.

Utilization of waste from fish processing industry for production of value added products has attracted substantial attention. Blackspotted croaker (Protonibea diacanthus) is a marine fish having the potential of abundant supply of raw skins for production of gelatin. This study was aimed to optimize the extraction conditions for gelatin production from skin of Blackspotted croaker. Response surface methodology (RSM) was adopted by following central composite design to determine the optimal conditions of four independent variables namely concentration of NaOH (X1), soaking time (X2), extraction temperature (X3) and extraction time (X4) for three response variables namely yield, gel strength and melting point. The models obtained by RSM produced a satisfactory fit to the data with respect to gelatin extraction (for gelatin yield, R (2)  = 0.867, P = 0.0003; for gel strength, R (2)  = 0.837, P = 0.007; for melting point, R (2)  = 0.765, P = 0.01). Based on these models, the optimum conditions to achieve the predicted maximum values were: yield of 17.21 % at X1 = 0.23 %, X2 = 46.19 min, X3 = 55.29 °C and X4 = 17.29 h; gel strength of 422.69 g at X1 = 0.22 %, X2 = 44.56 min, X3 = 59.02 °C and X4 = 15.35 h and melting point of 23.48 °C at X1 = 0.20 %, X2 = 46.68 min, X3 = 56.23 °C and X4 = 15.21 h. It can be concluded from the present study that Blackspotted croaker skin is a prospective source to produce gelatin in good yield with desirable quality attributes comparable to commercially available mammalian gelatins.