Abstract
Feathers, an industrial by-product, are a valuable source of keratin that could be used, for example, in the preparation of films for biomedical and packaging applications. However, the utilisation of feather keratin requires scalable processes to convert feathers into a feasible keratin stream. This paper shows how deep eutectic solvent (DES) fractionated feathers could be converted into strong films. In the DES fractionation process, two keratin fractions with different molecular weights were obtained. The films made of the high molecular weight keratin fraction had better mechanical properties and stability against moisture than the films made of the low molecular weight keratin fraction. The strength properties were further improved by cross-linking the keratin with diglycidyl ether enabling the formation of a uniform keratin network, whereas glutaraldehyde did not show a clear cross-linking effect. These keratin films could be used, for example, in food packaging or medical applications such as wound care.
Highlights
The increased importance of environmental issues and their relation to fossil-based materials have accelerated development towards more sustainable materials during recent years
This paper shows how deep eutectic solvent (DES) fractionated feathers could be converted into strong films
The films made of the high molecular weight keratin fraction had better mechanical properties and stability against moisture than the films made of the low molecular weight keratin fraction
Summary
The increased importance of environmental issues and their relation to fossil-based materials have accelerated development towards more sustainable materials during recent years. At least partly lost its disulphide cross-linking and crystallinity, and it has a rather low molecular weight leading to lms with poor mechanical properties and stability, especially in the wet state.[19,22] The mechanical properties and the stability of feather keratin lms could be improved by reforming the disulphide cross-links, increasing the chain entanglement, forming new cross-links, or incorporating reinforcing nanoparticles in the structure.[19] New cross-links in the protein lms can be formed for example with chemical cross-linkers such as glutaraldehyde[23] and diepoxies.[24] The mechanical properties can be improved with plasticisers. Feathers were fractionated with an aqueous DES composing of sodium acetate (NaOAc) and urea, and two keratin fractions of different molecular weights were obtained These keratin fractions were evaluated for their applicability for lm preparation with and without further chemical cross-linking with glutaraldehyde (GA) and 1,4-butanediol diglycidyl ether (BDE). The molecular weight and particle size distributions of the obtained keratin fractions were measured, while the lm properties were studied with a focus on the evaluation of lm morphology, tensile strength, water vapour permeability, solubility, swelling, and water contact angle
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