Preparation and Characteristics of Calcium Lactate from Black Snail

Calcium lactate (CL) prepared from powdered black snail (PBS) or its ashed powder (ABS), was investigated for ideal manufacturing conditions to optimize color, solubility and sensory quality. Based on the amount of PBS and 100 mL lactic acid (LA), the yields of PBS-CL were 300% and 15 g in 10% LA and 260% and 20 g in 20% LA. Yields of ABS-CL based on the amount ABS and 100 mL LA were 400% and 60 g in 10% LA and 329% and 66 g in 20% LA. Both of the yields were decreased with an increase of the LA concentration on the basis of PBS and ABS amounts, but proportionally increased with the increment in the LA concentration on the basis of LA volume. Optimal preparation times of the dehydrated PBS-CL and ABS-CL were, respectively, 4 hr and 5 hr at 10$0^{\circ}C$, 3 hr and 4 hr at 12$0^{\circ}C$, and 1 hr and 2 hr at 15$0^{\circ}C$, which showed shorter time in preparing the dehydrated ABS-CL. PBS-CL and ABS-CL were confirmed to be Ca($CH_3$CHOH$CO_2$)$_2$ by the analysis results of IR and $^1$H-NMR. Calcium contents of the anhydrous PBS-CL and ABS-CL were individually 15.4% (w/w) and 17.3% (w/w) representing 84.2% and 94.5% or each theoretical value. Colors or PBS-CL and ABS-CL were light yellow and light-greenish white each. Solubilities of PBS- CL and ABS-CL in distilled water at pH 3~8 were 5.43 and 6.11 g/100 mL, respectively, which demonstrated higher mean solubilities rather than the 4.74 g/100 mL of standard CL. Solubilities of PBS-CL (3.14~5.03 g/100 mL) and ABS-CL (4.69~6.05 g/100 mL) against soup soy sauce, 3% brine, Soju (Korean distilled liquor), thick soy sauce, grape juice and orange juice were higher than those of standard CL (2.94~5.84 g/100 mL). ABS-CL was believed to have a wide use range due to its low sourness while different applications of PBS-CL in food are expected due to its mild astringent taste and strong savory taste despite its strong bitter taste as estimated by sensory evaluation.