Protein isolates from jumbo squid (Dosidicus gigas) by pH-shift processing

There is a growing interest in adding value to the jumbo squid Dosidicus gigas fishery. This work describes two extraction procedures for processing muscle to obtain protein isolates with suitable functional properties. The effect on muscle protein solubility and protein recovery of combining freezing and grinding raw materials during storage was evaluated. Processes are based on extraction of protein at acid or alkaline pH and subsequent iso-electric precipitation. About 85% of the initial muscle protein was solubilized at pH 3 and 11. Regardless of the pH used for extraction, about 90% of the protein was obtained after precipitation at pH 5.5. The total yield from both procedures was 75%. Treatments during storage did not significantly affect solubility and yield of protein. Wastewater contained negligible amounts of protein and may be reused. Processing by acid and alkaline extraction are feasible alternatives for obtaining protein isolates either from fresh or frozen squid muscle, which is an important consideration when choosing the most appropriate and inexpensive method to scale up this technology.