12.3 Chemistry of Collagens
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surrounded by the water molecules and form hydrogen bonds. This molecular weight
and pH dependence of collagen solubility prove useful in designing products which
are targeted to be released at specific points along the alimentary canal since the pH
varies at the different parts.
12.4 Availability of Raw Materials
FAO reported 171 million tonnes of fish produced in 2016, 54.1 million tonnes of
this being farmed finfish (valued at about 138.50 billion USD). It was stated that 88%
of this was utilized for direct human consumption (FAO 2018). Of these percentage
consumed as food, some of these also include the waste generated from the fish
food waste. The term fish here also includes other aquatic animals such as shrimps,
mollusks and lobsters but excludes aquatic plants and algae. It has also been observed
that as the world population grows the consumption of fish grows twice as much.
Since the global population is ever on a constant rise so will the demand for fish, and
hence the availability of the fish waste from which collagen can be produced.
Due to its presence in a broad range of organisms, collagen is relatively abundant.
One of the issues with availability of raw materials for commercial collagen production is the fact that some of the sources of collagen raw materials are consumed as
food. Those which are not eaten are usually sold alongside with the food for different reasons like preserving quality and reducing the cost of processing. For example,
fin fish are often sold and served whole, such that obtaining the waste bones along
the value chain might prove difficult. Fish waste such as bones is usually discarded
alongside organic waste, they also degrade relatively fast, post-consumer collection
of such wasted is not as feasible as collecting non-biodegradable wastes such as
plastics. One way to counter this limitation is to collect from fish processors who
descale, fillet or extract oils from the fish. Coproduction of fish collagen can also be
carried out alongside the aforementioned processes.
Fish production either from fishing from the wild or fish farming using aquaculture
forms an important part of the human diet. Aquatic sourced food is a major source
of protein in many diets across the world. A long-term sustainable production of
fish and fisheries products is a key part of sustainable development. Fish processing
results in the generation of a considerable amount of waste, about 50–70% of the
fish results in waste which includes the fins, the scales and in some cases the skin
and guts. These wastes comprise up to 30% collagen which is of high commercial
value. Aquatic-based raw material for collagen production is therefore promised to
be sustainable.
The availability of aquatic raw materials for collagen production however faces
some challenges. One of which is the challenge of overfishing and irresponsible
fishing which has resulted in decline of some fish species and threatens the longterm availability of such resources. About 33.1% of fish available in the waters are
fished beyond biologically sustainable limits. Commercial extraction of collagen
from fish scales should therefore not seek to exert further strain on the rate of fishing
265
surrounded by the water molecules and form hydrogen bonds. This molecular weight
and pH dependence of collagen solubility prove useful in designing products which
are targeted to be released at specific points along the alimentary canal since the pH
varies at the different parts.
12.4 Availability of Raw Materials
FAO reported 171 million tonnes of fish produced in 2016, 54.1 million tonnes of
this being farmed finfish (valued at about 138.50 billion USD). It was stated that 88%
of this was utilized for direct human consumption (FAO 2018). Of these percentage
consumed as food, some of these also include the waste generated from the fish
food waste. The term fish here also includes other aquatic animals such as shrimps,
mollusks and lobsters but excludes aquatic plants and algae. It has also been observed
that as the world population grows the consumption of fish grows twice as much.
Since the global population is ever on a constant rise so will the demand for fish, and
hence the availability of the fish waste from which collagen can be produced.
Due to its presence in a broad range of organisms, collagen is relatively abundant.
One of the issues with availability of raw materials for commercial collagen production is the fact that some of the sources of collagen raw materials are consumed as
food. Those which are not eaten are usually sold alongside with the food for different reasons like preserving quality and reducing the cost of processing. For example,
fin fish are often sold and served whole, such that obtaining the waste bones along
the value chain might prove difficult. Fish waste such as bones is usually discarded
alongside organic waste, they also degrade relatively fast, post-consumer collection
of such wasted is not as feasible as collecting non-biodegradable wastes such as
plastics. One way to counter this limitation is to collect from fish processors who
descale, fillet or extract oils from the fish. Coproduction of fish collagen can also be
carried out alongside the aforementioned processes.
Fish production either from fishing from the wild or fish farming using aquaculture
forms an important part of the human diet. Aquatic sourced food is a major source
of protein in many diets across the world. A long-term sustainable production of
fish and fisheries products is a key part of sustainable development. Fish processing
results in the generation of a considerable amount of waste, about 50–70% of the
fish results in waste which includes the fins, the scales and in some cases the skin
and guts. These wastes comprise up to 30% collagen which is of high commercial
value. Aquatic-based raw material for collagen production is therefore promised to
be sustainable.
The availability of aquatic raw materials for collagen production however faces
some challenges. One of which is the challenge of overfishing and irresponsible
fishing which has resulted in decline of some fish species and threatens the longterm availability of such resources. About 33.1% of fish available in the waters are
fished beyond biologically sustainable limits. Commercial extraction of collagen
from fish scales should therefore not seek to exert further strain on the rate of fishing