Waste-free technology for the production of hydrolyzed beef collagen from leather production waste

The problem of both the processing and the rational use of leather production waste in recent years has become relevant throughout the world. This is explained by the fact that a large amount of waste (30-50% of the mass of raw materials) is generated in manufacturing leather. It contains up to 50% of protein substances and many other by-products. It is proposed that cattle hides be used as the primary raw material to obtain collagen proteins used in the food industry. The research aims to develop a technology for processing raw split leather. The development makes recycling up to 50% of leather production waste possible. Split leather waste isolates collagen materials suitable for the food industry. Protein obtained from split leather due to enzymolysis by proteolytic enzymes is subsequently subjected to mechanical and thermal processing. When preparing raw materials, cowhides are treated with a solution of hydrogen peroxide at a concentration of 1.0-3.0% and alkali at a concentration of 1.5-3.0% at a temperature of 20 ± 5 °C for 10-20 hours. Studies have been conducted to confirm that hydrolyzed beef collagen meets the requirements of regulatory and technological norms of food safety. The object of the study is the technology for producing hydrolyzed beef collagen obtained by enzymatically processing the cowhide split. For the enzymatic degradation of collagen tissues, collagenase and alkaline protease enzymes were used.