Valorization of discarded industrial fish processing wastes for the extraction of gelatin to use as biodegradable fish bait matrix using RSM

Extraction of gelatin from fish wastes and the development of artificial fish bait matrix using the extracted gelatin were attempted in the study. Biochemical composition of fish wastes (heads, skins, fins and scales) and the gelatin derived from the wastes of corresponding body parts and physicochemical properties of fish gelatin were analyzed. Considering high yield (19.8–22.4%), good gel strength (1.99–2.3 N), high melting point (27 °C) and simple extraction process, the scale gelatin was selected for the development of artificial fish bait matrix. To optimize the levels of gelling agent, cross linker and solvent for the preparation of bait matrix, RSM was adopted. Gel strength and insolubility ratio were analyzed to know the suitability of the bait. They were found to have the gel strength ranging from 1.3 N to 23.5 N, insolubility ratio from 55–83%, and melting point from 34.3 °C to 41.1 °C. The optimum levels of ingredients for the preparation of ideal bait matrix were standardized as: gelatin-25.5%, sucrose-22.5% and water-52%. The curing temperature and curing duration were optimized based on the optimum gel strength of 20.84 N and insolubility ratio of 74.5% was 5 °C and 25 h respectively. The study revealed that a developed fish bait matrix suitable for fishing can be made from gelatin derived from fish wastes.