Amino Acid Hydrolysate from Crab Processing Waste

Abstract

ABSTRACT Variables affecting acid hydrolyses were investigated for their efficacy in producing high quality amino acid hydrolysates from crab waste protein for its potential use in specialized animal feed and other food products. In a preliminary trial, 5N HCl was found to be a suitable hydrolyzing agent based on the presence of nihydrin‐positive substances. Amino acid yields from a 12 hr hydrolysis time varied from about 28–31%, increased marginally to 29–32% with 24 hr of hydrolysis, but decreased with hydrolysis time in excess of 24 hr. Depending upon hydrolysis time, approximately 42–44% of the total amino acids were essential amino acids: principally leucine, arginine, valine, and threonine. The remaining nonessential amino acid fraction was composed mainly of glutamic acid, aspartic acid and glycine.