Solubilisation of bovine rumen and decolorisation of bovine blood by enzymic hydrolysis with alcalase.

Enzymic hydrolysis has potential for upgrading a range of waste materials from the meat industry. The effects of the reaction variables pH, time, temperature, enzyme concentration and rumen concentration on the solubilisation of rumen by Alcalase have been determined. Reaction progress curves showed rapid initial rates followed by a gradual decline in rate. The optimum reaction pH was 8·5. Optimum reaction temperatures for hydrolysis and solubilisation were about 55°C and 60°C, respectively, for a 3-h reaction. Solubilisation and degree of hydrolysis both increased with increasing enzyme concentration and decreased with increasing substrate concentration.