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Preparation of Keratin Hydrolysate from Chicken Feathers and Its Application in Cosmetics
Published on: November 27, 2017
19.7K
Green process to regenerate keratin from feathers with an aqueous deep eutectic solvent
Emmi-Maria Nuutinen1, Pia Willberg-Keyriläinen1, Tommi Virtanen1
1Solutions for Natural Resources and Environment, VTT, Technical Research Centre of Finland Tietotie 2 FI-02044 Espoo Finland emmi.nuutinen@vtt.fi +358406817126.
RSC Advances
|May 6, 2022
Summary
Poultry feathers can be transformed into valuable keratin using an eco-friendly deep eutectic solvent (DES) process. This method efficiently recovers keratin from feather waste, supporting circular economy principles.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Green Chemistry
- Circular Economy
Background:
- Poultry feathers are a keratin-rich byproduct of the food industry, requiring sustainable valorization.
- Deep eutectic solvents (DESs) offer an environmentally friendly approach for dissolving proteins from biomass.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and optimize an eco-friendly process for extracting keratin from poultry feathers using a specific DES.
- To evaluate the yield and properties of regenerated keratin under various processing conditions.
Main Methods:
- Feathers were treated with an aqueous sodium acetate-urea DES.
- Optimized dissolution time (6 h) and temperature (100 °C) at a 1:2 molar ratio.
- Keratin was regenerated by diluting the DES with water.
- Characterization of regenerated keratin properties.
Main Results:
- The optimized sodium acetate-urea DES process achieved 86% feather dissolution and 45% regenerated keratin yield.
- Higher temperatures and longer dissolution times reduced sulfur content and altered keratin's molecular weight and structure.
- The sodium acetate-urea DES outperformed choline chloride-urea and 8 M urea in keratin recovery.
Conclusions:
- An aqueous sodium acetate-urea DES is effective for extracting keratin from poultry feathers.
- Process conditions significantly impact keratin yield and characteristics.
- This method presents a viable route for feather waste valorization within a circular economy framework.
