Characterisation of soluble nitrogen and muscle proteins in wastewater throughout the salting process of codfish (Gadus morhua)

Vincenza Ferraro, Isabel B. Cruz, Ruben Ferreira Jorge, F. Xavier Malcata, Paula M. L. Castro, Manuela E. Pintado

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Abstract

In Portugal, Atlantic codfish (Gadus morhua) is usually consumed after dry salting; this process is carried out by mixing deboned codfish with food-grade marine salt followed by stacking in a tank for 6 days. Along the salting process, codfish incorporates salt as well as it is partially dried by the release of water - up to 22 % (w/w). Currently, this wastewater is treated as a residue not being further valorized. However, the presence of a significant amount of valuable compounds in this rest, such as amino acids and proteins, may allow for valorization opportunities not yet explored. The present work focuses on the identification of the nitrogen-containing compounds present in such wastewater. Total nitrogen (WSN), trichloroacetic acid-soluble nitrogen (TCASN) and phosphotungstic acid-soluble nitrogen (PTASN) were evaluated by the micro-Kjeldahl method; Biuret method was used for total protein determinations and SDS-Page was performed for protein molecular weight screening. The results revealed an increase of WSN, TCASN and PTASN with time, with corresponding values of 3.17 g/L (WSN), 1.62 g/L (TCASN) and 1.16 g/L (PTASN) by the end of the process; the evolution of WSN versus the released water was approximately constant during the salting process, as well as the ratios of TCASN/WSN and PTASN/WSN with values of 51.25 and 36.55 % (w/w) at equilibrium, respectively.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publication13th International Conference on Process Integration, Modelling and Optimisation for Energy Saving and Pollution Reduction
PublisherAIDIC-Italian Association of Chemical Engineering
Pages829-834
Number of pages6
Volume21
ISBN (Print)9788895608051
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2010
Event13th Conference on Process Integration, Modelling and Optimisation
for Energy Saving and Pollution Reduction
- Prague, Prague, Czech Republic
Duration: 28 Aug 20101 Sept 2010
Conference number: 13

Conference

Conference13th Conference on Process Integration, Modelling and Optimisation
for Energy Saving and Pollution Reduction
Abbreviated titlePRES2010
Country/TerritoryCzech Republic
CityPrague
Period28/08/101/09/10

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