Comparison of Gelatine Extraction Process of Bovine Hide Split by Acid and Base Processes

Abstract

Gelatin is a protein derivative from collagen fiber contained in the skin tissue, bone, and cartilage. Bovine hide is potential to be used in gelatin industry because it contains high collagen fiber, i.e. 89%. The hide can be obtained from the slaughterhouse or tannery industry. Split leather from tannery industry has not been utilized optimally. Gelatin production process can be classified mainly into two processes, i.e. acid or base process. Acid process produced gelatin type A while base process produced gelatin type B. These processes are different based on solution type and soaking period. Acid process is performed by soaking the leather in HCl 1%for 24 hours, while base process is carried out by soaking the leather in Ca(OH)2 3% and NaOH 0.05% for 7 days. Parameters observed in this study were moisture content, ash, protein, fat, color, acidity (pH), gel strength, viscosity, and molecular weight. The yield of gelatin from tannery and slaughterhouse leather obtained in this study were 22.12% and 30.77% for gelatin type A, respectively, and 6.40% and 26.12% for gelatin type B, respectively. The characteristics of the gelatin, from tanning manufacture and slaughterhouse, had complied SNI (1995) and BSI (1975). Thus, tannery leather is a potential source for gelatin. The yield showed that the acid process was better than the base process, while based on properties such as the viscosity, molecular weight, and gel strength, the base process was better than the acid process.