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Product Overview
Gelatin is a large molecule hydrophilic colloid, a product of partial hydrolysis of collagen. Depending on its performance and use, it can be categorized into photographic gelatin, edible gelatin, and industrial gelatin. The quality requirements for gelatin vary according to its application. When used as an adhesive, bonding strength is the primary requirement. For applications in photography, food, and medicine, the purity of the product is emphasized.
Collagen molecules consist of three intertwined polypeptide chains forming a helix. Through processing, the helix is denatured and broken down into single polypeptide chains (α-chains), α-components formed by two α-chains, γ-components formed by three α-chains, and molecular chain fragments smaller than α-components or larger than γ-components. Therefore, gelatin is a polydisperse system with a certain molecular weight distribution, which varies with processing conditions and affects its physical and chemical properties.
Production Process
- Gelatin is the product of moderate hydrolysis and thermal denaturation of collagen. The main raw materials for gelatin production include animal skins, bones, and leather industry by-products. Most commonly available gelatin in the market is prepared from cowhide, cow bones, or pigskin. In recent years, due to the emergence of mad cow disease and foot-and-mouth disease, many gelatin manufacturers have turned to producing gelatin from fish skin, fish scales, and chicken skin. Currently, the main production methods for gelatin include the alkaline method, acid method, and enzymatic method. The alkaline and acid methods are traditional production methods, with a longer production cycle of about 15 days, and the waste liquid discharged causes significant environmental pollution. Due to the lower production cost and higher safety of enzymatically produced gelatin, it has gradually replaced acid and alkaline-produced gelatin in the pharmaceutical and food fields.
- Acid Method Production
- The production of gelatin mainly consists of three processes: collection, preservation, and pretreatment of raw materials such as skins and bones, which are the preliminary steps in gelatin technology development. The degradation of collagen, or gelatin extraction, is the second process and the key part affecting yield. The final process includes filtration, evaporation, sterilization, and drying. The difference between the acid and alkaline methods lies in the chemical treatment methods used during the preliminary processing and gelatin extraction stages. The acid method typically uses hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid, phosphoric acid, lactic acid, citric acid, acetic acid, or a combination of these acids for raw material swelling and further breaking of molecular cross-links and bonds with a weak or strong acid to dissolve polypeptides in acidic aqueous solution, a process also known as gelatin extraction.
Alkaline Method Production
In the alkaline method of gelatin preparation, collagen-containing raw materials are first pretreated by soaking in lime, washing, and degreasing. After pretreatment, the fat content is low, and the main component is collagen protein, which is gradually degraded into a mixture of polypeptides of varying molecular weights under the conditions of lime or sodium hydroxide and certain temperatures. After a series of treatments, including concentration, dehumidification, and drying, a solid powder is obtained. In terms of product yield, properties, and purity, the alkaline method can produce high-quality gelatin. Currently, more than 80% of domestic gelatin is alkaline gelatin. The lime and caustic soda methods are commonly used in the alkaline production of gelatin. The lime method for pigskin gelatin production typically involves raw material sorting, lime water pre-soaking, hydraulic degreasing, lime water soaking, washing and neutralizing, boiling gelatin, concentration, bleaching, and gelatinization.
Enzymatic Method Production
Enzyme-catalyzed collagen degradation to prepare gelatin greatly shortens the production cycle compared to the traditional alkaline method, which has been a focus of research for foreign gelatin scientists. Research on enzymatic gelatin production began in 1962 and has a history of over 50 years. It is well known that gelatin can be produced by degrading collagen with enzymes, but the resulting gelatin has a broader molecular weight distribution, with a higher content of high molecular weight components, making process control more difficult. These defects affect the quality of gelatin.
The enzymatic gelatin preparation method involves treating crushed bone or skin collagen with an enzyme solution, then stirring in an acidic solution to obtain a collagen solution, followed by neutralization to the isoelectric point of collagen or salt precipitation to obtain collagen fiber precipitate. After separating the precipitate and heating, gelatin is obtained. Another method is enzyme-based liming, where the enzyme solution replaces the lime milk used in the traditional alkaline method to treat collagen bone or skin, followed by completing the remaining steps according to the traditional method. This process is more suitable for bone gelatin preparation. The general enzymatic gelatin production process includes skin material pretreatment, enzymatic hydrolysis, enzyme inactivation, solubilization, separation, purification, and the final product.
Functions and Benefits
Gelling agent, stabilizer, emulsifier, thickener
Applications:Cosmetic Industry
Gelatin, collagen hydrolysates, and their derivatives are used in cosmetics for their protective, moisturizing, and cleansing properties for the skin and hair, but these additives only show significant effects when used in conjunction with specific cosmetic ingredients.
Protein complexes with sodium lauryl ether sulfate protect the eyes. Neutral and acid-soluble collagen solutions can be combined with synthetic soaps, and other detergents can prevent harmful effects (like irritation) from detergents on the skin. This is because gelatin, collagen hydrolysates, and their derivatives form micelles around the detergents, making synthetic soaps and other detergents milder. Simultaneously, they can enhance the cleansing power of detergents without reducing or only slightly reducing foam activity. Protein-containing soaps and detergents also have excellent moisturizing effects and emulsify certain oils, such as eyebrow dye oils, lipsticks, and eye creams, leaving the skin feeling soft, non-dry, and non-sticky after washing.
Protein-containing hair cosmetics can increase hair tensile strength and elasticity, making them commonly used in perming, styling, rinsing, and drying cosmetics. Proteins are often added to conditioners to reduce the damage of surfactants, alkalis, and peroxides to hair. Common hair care products include moisturizing shampoos, hair conditioners or lotions, wool-protein conditioners, protein fixatives, and more.
Packaging and Storage:
Storage Conditions: Store in a sealed, light-proof container, away from high temperatures, in a dry, cool, and well-ventilated place.
Packaging: Bulk packaging in 25 kg cardboard drums, small samples in 1 kg aluminum foil bags, or according to customer requirements.
Transportation: Via courier or logistics. Domestic courier delivery within three days, logistics within five days. Prices typically include domestic shipping costs.
Shelf Life: Two years
