Gelatin is an English word (gelatin or Gelatin) which is derived from the Latin gelatus meaning hard or frozen. It may also be known by other names such as: hydrolyzed collagen, gelatin hydrolyzate, hydrolyzed gelatin, collagen hydrolyzate. Gelatin is a compound extracted from connective tissues such as: skin, animal bones including domestic animals, chicken, pigs and fish.

Gelatin is a semi-transparent and tasteless food substance that is generally extracted from the collagen found in animal body parts. This material is crunchy and brittle when dry and gummy when wet. Gelatin is usually used as a thickening agent in food, liquids, medicines and vitamin capsules, photographic films, papers and cosmetics.
Materials containing gelatin or materials that have a similar function are known as gelatinous materials. In fact, gelatin is obtained from the irreversible reaction of collagen hydrolysis; in which protein fibers are converted into smaller peptides by hydrolysis.
Gelatin is used in a wide range of foods such as jelly desserts, most gummy candies, pastilles, marshmallows, ice cream, sauces and yogurts. Gelatin is used in different industries, including food industry, in different forms such as powder, granule and sheet.

Properties of gelatin powder

This odorless and tasteless substance with a relatively yellow color has the ability to dissolve in polar solvents such as: hot water, glycerol and acetic acid, but it does not dissolve in organic solvents such as alcohol. Gelatin can absorb 5 to 10 times its weight in water and become a gel. The gel created from gelatin can be re-melted through heat and increase its viscosity under pressure. The highest melting point of gelatin is lower than the temperature of the human body. This temperature is an important factor for creating a favorable feeling from eating foods made with gelatin. Of course, depending on the origin of gelatins, they will have different melting points. For example, gelatin made from fish has a lower melting point and gelatin point than gelatin made from pork.

The effects of gelatin powder on the body

The results of studies on humans in 2005 show that hydrolyzed collagens are absorbed into the blood as small peptides. Also, the investigation of the effect of this substance on the skin indicates that the ingestion of hydrolyzed collagens affects the skin by increasing the density of collagen fibrils.
On the other hand, conducting medical studies on hydrolyzed collagens that entered the body by eating, the tremendous effect of this substance in reducing joint pains and increasing bone density. However, in 2011, the association between the consumption of hydrolyzed collagens and joint protection was not confirmed.

Gelatin powder production method

The global demand for gelatin is about 620,000 tons. On a commercial scale, gelatin is made from the by-products of the meat and leather industries. Most gelatins are obtained from the skin and bones of pigs or cow bones. On the other hand, gelatin made from fish by-products avoids some religious objections about gelatin consumption.
Also, gelatin is prepared by boiling the bones and part of the cartilaginous parts of beef, which is soluble in water. After the cooling process, depending on the concentration of the ingredients, it becomes a natural gel.
While there are many methods to convert collagen to gelatin, many factors are involved. One of these factors is that the intermolecular bonds that lead to the stabilization of insoluble collagens and the hydrogen bonds that stabilize the collagen strands must be broken. Therefore, it can be said that the gelatin production process includes the following two main stages:
1. Preparation operations to create raw materials and remove impurities that have negative effects on the physical and chemical properties of the final gelatin product.
2. Hydrolysis of collagen to gelatin
3. Extraction of gelatin from hydrolyzed tissue, which is usually done with hot water or dilute acid solutions in a multi-step process.
4. Purification and processing operations that include filtration, clarification, evaporation, sterilization, drying, grinding and sieving to remove water from the gelatin solution, and finally mixing the extracted gelatin and producing the final gelatin.

Uses of gelatin powder

Gelatin powder and gelatin sheets are used in various fields. The first use of gelatin in food dates back to medieval England (15th century) where cow hooves were boiled for a long time to produce gel. This process was very difficult and time-consuming and was limited only to wealthy families. In the late 17th century, the French inventor Denis Papin discovered another method for extracting gelatin from boiling bones. The research about this material continued in different places until in the middle of 1800, two people named Charles and Rose Knox (Charles and Rose Knox) ​​in New York produced and marketed gelatin powder, which expanded the attractions and uses of gelatin. gave

• The use of gelatin powder in cooking,
this material is known more as a gelling agent in cooking. Different types and grades of gelatin are used in a wide range of food and non-food products. Common examples of foods in which gelatin is used are: jelly desserts, truffles, marshmallows, and all kinds of pastilles.
Gelatin is also used as a stabilizer, thickener or texture improver in foods such as yogurt, cream cheeses and margarines. It is also used in foods containing low amounts of fat to create a pleasant feeling when eating and also to add volume to food. In addition to all the uses mentioned for gelatin in food, it is also used to clarify a series of juices such as apple juice and vinegar.

• The use of gelatin in cosmetics,
in cosmetics, hydrolyzed collagens are widely used in creams, as emollients and moisturizers. Collagen implants or skin fillers are also used to remove wrinkles and acne scars. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the use of these fillers and recognized human and cow cells as the origin of these fillers. According to the organization (FDA), the favorable effects of using these substances can last 3 to 4 months, which is shorter compared to other substances used for this purpose.

Among other areas where gelatin is used, are:
• Some professional lighting equipment and shows use colored gels to change the color of the beam. Historically, these were made with gelatin, hence the so-called colored gels.
• Gelatin is used in the coating of many medicines and multivitamins to facilitate swallowing. While gelatin is still used, hypermolose is considered an acceptable vegetable substitute for gelatin; But its production cost is very high.
• Animal-based adhesives used in industry may also use unrefined gelatin in its production.
• It is used to stabilize silver halide crystals to produce emulsion. These emulsions are used to produce photographic films and papers. Until now, despite many efforts, they have not been able to find a suitable substitute for gelatin.
• It is used as a carrier, coating or separating agent for other substances, for example: it makes beta-carotene soluble in water and causes yellow color in other drinks.
Another type of gelatin is ballistic gelatin, which is used to test arrows in the military industry.
• It is also used as a glue for matches and sandpaper.
• It is very useful for making hydrogels in tissue engineering.

Dietary restrictions and gelatin substitutes

The use of gelatin prepared from animals is prohibited in some cultures and religions, for example, in Islam, the use of pig gelatin or cow gelatin slaughtered in a non-halal manner is not allowed. Also, vegetarians do not consume food containing animal-derived gelatin and only use vegetable gelatin prepared from seaweed.