Functional properties of gelatin from cuttlefish (Sepia pharaonis) skin as affected by bleaching using hydrogen peroxide

Functional properties of gelatin from dorsal and ventral skin of cuttlefish with and without bleaching by H2O2 at different concentrations (2% and 5% (w/v)) for 24 and 48 h were studied. Gelatin from skin bleached with 5% H2O2 for 48 h showed the highest yield (49.65% and 72.88% for dorsal and ventral skin, respectively). Bleaching not only improved the colour of gelatin gel by increasing the L∗-value and decreasing a∗-value but also enhanced the bloom strength, and the emulsifying and foaming properties of the resulting gelatin. Gelatin from bleached skin contained protein with a molecular weight of 97 kDa and had an increased carbonyl content. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopic study showed higher intermolecular interactions and denaturation of gelatin from bleached skin than that of the control. These results indicated that hydrogen peroxide most likely induced the oxidation of gelatin, resulting in the formation of gelatin cross-links, giving improved functional properties.