Ductile keratin films from deep eutectic solvent-fractionated feathers

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Biochemistry
• Sustainable Chemistry

Background:

• Feathers are an abundant industrial byproduct rich in keratin.
• Keratin's potential for films in biomedical and packaging is hindered by scalable processing challenges.
• Developing efficient methods to extract and utilize feather keratin is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the deep eutectic solvent (DES) fractionation of feathers for keratin extraction.
• To evaluate the properties of keratin films derived from different molecular weight fractions.
• To assess the impact of cross-linking agents on film strength and stability.

Main Methods:

• Feathers were fractionated using a deep eutectic solvent (DES) process, yielding two keratin fractions.
• Films were prepared from high and low molecular weight keratin fractions.
• Mechanical properties and moisture stability of the films were tested.
• Cross-linking was performed using diglycidyl ether and glutaraldehyde.

Main Results:

• DES fractionation successfully produced two distinct keratin fractions based on molecular weight.
• Films from high molecular weight keratin exhibited superior mechanical strength and moisture resistance.
• Diglycidyl ether effectively cross-linked keratin, forming a uniform network and enhancing film properties.
• Glutaraldehyde showed limited cross-linking efficacy.

Conclusions:

• Deep eutectic solvent (DES) fractionation is a viable scalable method for feather keratin processing.
• Keratin films derived from high molecular weight fractions offer enhanced performance for applications.
• Cross-linking with diglycidyl ether significantly improves keratin film properties.
• These sustainable keratin films present opportunities for food packaging and medical uses.