Term for Bone Collagen

Bone collagen is known as:

Correct Answer: Both Ossein and Demineralized Bone

Bone collagen is known by two interchangeable names: Ossein and Demineralized bone.

What is Ossein?

• When bones are treated with dilute hydrochloric acid (HCl), the mineral salts (primarily calcium phosphate — hydroxyapatite) are dissolved away.
• What remains is the organic protein matrix — predominantly type I collagen — known as ossein or demineralised bone.

Industrial Importance of Ossein

• Gelatin production — Ossein is the primary raw material for bone gelatin. Gelatin is used in food (jellies, confectionery, marshmallows), pharmaceuticals (capsule shells), and photography (film emulsions).
• Glue — crude form of gelatin; made from animal bones and hides

Bone Ash

• Bone ash = inorganic residue after incineration of bone (calcium phosphate); used in bone china manufacture and as a phosphate fertiliser — NOT the same as ossein.

Related Facts

• Glue = crude form of gelatin
• Horn raw material → used to produce gelatin
• Bone collagen (ossein) → major source of commercial gelatin