Poultry Feathers Research Articles

Characterization of the chemical composition, amino acid, and fatty acid profiles of underutilized poultry feathers

Poultry is one of the leading subsectors of animal husbandry. However, despite its socioeconomic importance, it is considered a significant contributor to environmental problems through its waste production, including feathers. Feathers are protective layers that make up the typical outer wrapping. It can be found on feathery and in some non-feathery winged creatures. In this context, this research was conducted to determine the proximate, mineral, fatty acid, and amino acid profile in poultry feathers. The proximate analysis revealed the values of ash (1.40%), moisture (6.30%), crude fiber (9.20%), protein (67.50%), crude fat (2.90%), and carbohydrate (12.70%). The mineral elements (ppm) indicated sodium (0.04), magnesium (0.03), potassium (0.04), calcium (0.06), phosphorus (0.05), manganese (0.01), iron (0.01), and zinc (0.01). The amino acid profile showed that it contained sixteen amino acids which includes important amino acids most especially all the essential amino acids except lysine. In contrast, the fatty acid profile revealed that it contained twelve fatty acids. Among these, it includes basic saturated fatty acids such as glycine and rich in unsaturated fatty acid contents. The finding indicates that poultry feathers can contribute useful nutrients, mineral elements, fatty acids, and amino acids to livestock feed for maximum utilization and rapid development, making it a good potential and sustainable material from waste to wealth.

The Effects of an Oral Supplementation of a Natural Keratin Hydrolysate on Skin Aging: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Study in Healthy Women.

Keratin hydrolysates are active components used in food supplements to alleviate aging signs on skin, hair, and nails. This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study evaluates a novel keratin hydrolysate obtained from poultry feathers. This feather keratin hydrolysate (FKH) results in a characteristic mix of free L-amino acids (≥ 83.5%). FKH was administered as a food supplement to a panel of adult women showing aging physiological signs. Participants were randomly assigned in three groups to receive daily dosages of 500 or 1000 mg of FKH or placebo for 90 days. Parameters of skin roughness, wrinkle features, deep skin moisturization, skin maximum elongation and elasticity, skin thickness, skin anisotropy, skin density, gloss of skin, hair and nails, and nail hardness were evaluated. Subjects also answered a questionnaire related to the treatment efficacy perception. Both FKH treatments showed a significant improvement of all parameters compared to day 0 and to placebo, with an exception for fiber anisotropy and fiber density which showed a significant improvement compared to day 0 and a tendency to improve compared to placebo. These measurements were bolstered by the results of a self-assessment questionnaire, showing an overall set of positive answers for both treatments compared to placebo. Oral supplementation of FKH for 90 days is associated with an improvement in the appearance of facial skin, hair, and nails. This study highlights the benefits of free L-amino acids mix as potential aminobiotics and not just as building blocks of proteins, suggesting a new perspective of nutricosmetic food.

Porous nitrogen-doped carbons derived from poultry feathers for electrochemical capacitors

The synthesis of a nitrogen doped carbon material (NDCM) from the ball-milling and chemical activation of high temperature carbonised waste chicken feathers is reported. Synthesised NDCMs with nitrogen content ranging from 2.2 to 6.6 wt% were analysed via a range of physio and electrochemical characterisation methods. The effects of carbonisation temperature, mechanical milling and chemical activation were evaluated on specific capacitance and charge retention. Electrochemical testing demonstrated that the optimised NDCM (carbonised at 700 °C followed by ball milling and chemical activation) possessed a specific capacitance of 195 F g−1 at 1 A g−1 current density. At the higher current density of 40 A g−1 89 % of the capacitance is retained. Moreover, this material showed a cycle life of 1000 galvanostatic charge/discharge cycles with a 1 % loss in capacitance at a current density of 5 A g−1.

Feather meal as a sustainable protein source for aquaculture in Bangladesh: Economic implications

The aquaculture industry is primarily burdened by the costs associated with feed. It is fundamentally dependent on fish meal derived from wild-caught sources as the primary source of protein. With the widespread adoption of alternative feed ingredients for sustainable production, this study evaluated the use of poultry feathers as feed ingredients to produce hydrolyzed feather meal (HFM) and its economic implications in Bangladesh. Samples were collected from the poultry markets of Dhaka city and hydrolyzed using formic acid for hydrolyzed feather meal (HFM) contains a higher percentage of crude protein nutritional analysis. A questionnaire survey was executed to evaluate the market dynamics associated with poultry waste. It was observed that the city generates approximately 1000 metric tons of poultry waste every day. Among them, 95% of the waste is thrown away. It was discerned that 0.5 metric tons of feather meal could be generated using one ton of raw feathers. Annually, 3000 metric tons of feather meal could be produced with a value of 0.9 million US$. The HFM contains a higher percentage of crude protein (86.53±0.02%) with crude fat (5.03±0.03%). It contains most of the important amino acids that are beneficial for the growth of fish. The price of the HFM was estimated at 0.27 to 0.30 US$ per kilogram, notably lower compared to fish meal (1.1 US$), and bone meal (0.7 US$). The physical properties of the HFM were found satisfactory. Thus, domestically sourced hydrolyzed feather meal could be used as a feed ingredients for aquaculture operations to reduce feed costs. HFM has the potential to be utilized as a cost-effective feed ingredient, thus lowering overall feed expenses, and presenting a substantial commercial potential.

Construction of artificial microbial consortia for efficient degradation of chicken feathers and optimization of degradation conditions.

Microbes within a consortium exhibit a synergistic interaction, enhancing their collective capacity to perform functions more effectively than a single species, especially in the degradation of keratin-rich substrates. To achieve a more stable and efficient breakdown of chicken feathers, a comprehensive screening of over 9,000 microbial strains was undertaken. This meticulous selection process identified strains with the capability to degrade keratin effectively. Subsequently, antagonistic tests were conducted to isolate strains of fungi and bacteria that were non-antagonistic, which were then used to form the artificial microbial consortia. The optimal fermentation conditions for the keratinophilic microbial consortia were determined through the optimization of response surface methodology. The results revealed that 11 microbial strains-comprising of 4 fungi and 7 bacteria-were particularly proficient in degrading chicken feathers. The artificially constructed microbial consortia (AMC) comprised two bacterial strains and one fungal strain. The optimal conditions for feathers degradation were identified as a 10g/L concentration of chicken feathers, a 2.6% microbial inoculation volume and a fermentation fluid pH of 9. Under these conditions, the degradation rate for chicken feathers reached a significant 74.02%, representing an 11.45% increase over the pre-optimization rate. The AMC developed in this study demonstrates the potential for efficient and economical process of livestock and poultry feathers. It provides innovative insights and a theoretical foundation for tackling the challenging degradation of keratin-rich materials. Furthermore, this research lays the groundwork for the separation and purification of keratins, as well as the development of novel proteases, which could have profound implications for a range of applications.

A benign synergism of O2 plasma and protein biopolymer for improving some properties of polyester fabrics

Polyester (PET)is the most widely used fiber in the textile and clothing fields by virtue of its cheapness, strength, crease-resistance, stain-resistance, and ease of drying. However, PET fabric lacks the antistatic properties, hydrophilicity, and affinity for most classes of dyes. Here, freshly extracted keratin from poultry feathers and sericin from silkworm cocoons were used for the first time to make oxygen plasma-treated PET fabric surfaces hydrophilic, antistatic, and dyeable with cationic dye. Adopting the pad-dry-cure technique, oxygen plasma-activated PET fabrics were successfully coated with a layer of sericin or keratin as indicated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The effects of plasma irradiation time as well as curing temperature and duration on the properties of the treated fabric were monitored. The results of this study revealed that the plasma/biopolymer-treated fabrics have become dyeable with the cationic dye C.I. Basic Violet 16. The effect of treatment of PET fabric on some of its physical and mechanical properties, such as wettability, antistatic properties, yellowness index, air permeability, water vapor permeability, ultraviolet protection factor, burst strength, and bending stiffness, was monitored. The durability of the finished sample against repeated washing in terms of the fabric resistivity was examined. The alterations in the chemical, crystal, and morphological structures of the treated fabric were assessed using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, XPS, X-ray diffraction, and SEM.

Eco friendly functional finishes of polyester fabric using keratin from wool and feather wastes

This research showcases the use of hydrothermally extracted solutions from poultry feathers and wool as eco-friendly and versatile textile finishes. These solutions, derived from waste biomass containing the keratin biopolymer, were obtained through environmentally conscious hydrothermal degradation processes. Initially, the study focused on analysing the chemical parameters and properties of both dialysed and non-dialysed solutions extracted from feathers and wool. The investigation tracked primarily the presence of keratin within these solutions. Upon application to polyester textiles as the reference material, the presence of these solutions on the fabric surface was confirmed successfully. A thorough physicochemical analysis of the treated textiles involved various analytical techniques. These encompassed surface composition analysis via X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) and Attenuated Total Reflectance Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR), assessment of wettability through Contact Angle measurements, determination of surface charge using surface zeta potential, and examination of the thermal and flame-retardant properties via Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA), and calorimetric tests. In addition, the colour, UV radiation transmission and antioxidant activity were evaluated using standard tests.The remarkable effects of the treatment have been observed in the exceptional antioxidative action, fire resistance, UV protection and enhanced hydrophilicity of these innovative multifunctional textiles. This approach holds significant implications across research, economics and society, enriching Material Science by deepening the understanding of materials and their multifaceted properties. Moreover, it promotes resource efficiency, opens new sustainable textile market prospects, and contributes to social impact by supporting environmental sustainability, engaging communities and ensuring health and safety benefits.

Efficacy of Keratinolytic Bacteria (Bacillus pumilus) for decomposing non-sparingly degradable poultry feathers from waste to wealth

Efficacy of Keratinolytic Bacteria (Bacillus pumilus) for decomposing non-sparingly degradable poultry feathers from waste to wealth

Keratin extraction optimization from poultry feather using response surface- Box-Behnken experimental design method

This study aimed to develop a cost-effective method for managing chicken feather waste by hydrolyzing it in an alkaline medium to extract keratin hydrolysate. Through a Box-Behnken experimental design, the effects of NaOH solution concentration, temperature, and extraction time on the extraction process were examined. Analysis of the extracted keratin hydrolysate revealed the presence of key functional groups and characteristic protein structures. Optimization efforts identified 0.65 N NaOH solution concentration, 70 °C temperature, and 1-h extraction time as yielding the highest protein yield of 89.71 %. These findings underscore the potential of alkaline hydrolysis as a sustainable approach for both waste management and the extraction of valuable keratin hydrolysate. This research contributes to addressing the challenges faced by poultry farms in waste management while offering avenues for the utilization of keratin in various applications, thereby promoting environmental protection and human health.

Ash from gasification of poultry feathers for heavy metal immobilization under assisted phytostabilization in soils

The carried-out experiment aimed to assess the influence of ash derived from the thermochemical conversion of feathers (AGF) as a soil amendment, and Dactylis glomerata L. as a test plant in aided phytostabilization of soil strongly contaminated by Cu, Cd, Pb and Zn. The influence of AHG on the chemical properties of soil (pH as well as total and CaCl2-extracted heavy metals) as well as the plant yield and concentration of heavy metals in the roots and shoots. The applied soil amendment influenced an increase in the pH values of soil (by 0.4 units) and a reduction in CaCl2-extractable forms of Zn (25%), Cu (23%), Cd (20%) and Pb (12%), as well as total forms of Cu (35%), Zn (35%), Pb (20%) and Cd (17%) in the soil. The plant yield of the shoots of Dactylis glomerata L. following the application of AGF was 31% higher when compared to the control series. The roots of the tested plant in the AGF series contained higher values of the analyzed heavy metals in relation to the shoots, which was especially visible in the case of Pb (more than twice as high) and Cd (37%).

Composite Materials Based on Waste Chicken Feather Fibers for Oil-Spill Management

ABSTRACT Oil spills remain one of the greatest man-made ecological threats, despite numerous advanced cleanup approaches. They still pose a major challenge in the search for materials and technologies that work as efficiently and sustainably as possible. Promising natural materials include poultry feathers, which are produced in large quantities every day as a byproduct of the meat industry. In this study, the influence of different forms of absorbents (loose feathers, pillows, and sheets) based on chicken feathers and the addition of an inorganic absorbent, sepiolite, on their absorption capacity was investigated. The chemical and physical surface properties, like morphology, chemical composition, zeta potential, surface free energies and oil absorption capacities were analyzed. The Gibbs free energy of immersion wetting with oil and the work of adhesion of the adsorbents, calculated based on contact angle measurements, were confirmed by the tests of adsorption capacities according to the ASTM 726–12 standard. The results showed that pure loose feathers have the highest oil adsorption capacity, while feather pillows have only half, and composite sheets have only a quarter of this capacity. The addition of inorganic adsorbent sepiolite did not increase the absorption capacity of the composites.

Poly(ε‑caprolactone) nanofibers functionalized with poultry feather hydrolysate as a novel antioxidant material

Bioactive keratin hydrolysates obtained from microbial treatment of poultry feathers were incorporated into polycaprolactone (PCL) nanofibers using the electrospinning method. The nanofiber mats were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM),...

Synthesis and Properties of Biomimetic Self-Assembling Structures from Poultry Feather Keratin

Synthesis and Properties of Biomimetic Self-Assembling Structures from Poultry Feather Keratin

THE ROLE OF BIODEGRADABLE NONWOVEN FABRICS IN EFFICIENT SODDING OF EARTH STRUCTURES

Aim of the study: Newly formed earth structures such as ski slopes are areas causing difficulties in attempts for efficient sodding since colonization with plants, their initial development and adaptation are hindered due to unfavorable climatic and soil factors. The main aim of the study was to demonstrate the feasibility of using nonwoven fabrics made from sheep's wool and waste poultry feathers on steep-gradient mountain slopes. Material and methods: Biodegradable geotextiles can be used not only to protect seeds and soil from washout, but also to promote turf development and improve soil microbial quality. During the experiment, plant growth was monitored together with microbial frequency changes. Results and conclusions: The results showed that the application of nonwoven fabrics after sowing a mix of grasses and clover had many advantages including the acceleration of seedling germination, improvement of plant initial development and increase of the number of plants per m2. The final biostimulation effect was found to be strongly dependent on geotextile biodegradability, grammage and the fleece structure. The best yield was obtained with the nonwoven grammage within the range of 150 - 180 g·m-2. The promotion of plant growth and, in particular, the development of the root system had a significant positive impact on the population of soil microbiota.

Keratinases produced by Chryseobacterium proteolyticum FGNn and Pseudomonas aeruginosa GNFx liberated amino acids from poultry feathers

AbstractThe agro-industrial sector generates diverse waste that requires effective handling to mitigate economic loss and pollution. Consequently, this study assessed bacterial isolates from poultry dumpsites for feather decomposition and keratinase production capacity. The protein hydrolysates generated from feather dismemberment by two bacteria identified as Chryseobacterium proteolyticum FGNn (accession no. MW165478) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa GNFx (accession no. MW165479) were profiled for amino acids composition. The biochemical properties of the bacteria-associated keratinases were determined. Initial keratinase production (with percentage feather degradation), demonstrated by the isolates, was 693.63 ± 62.99 U/mL (81%) and 619.09 ± 37.28 (76%) against FGNn and GNFx, respectively. At optimized process conditions, C. proteolyticum and P. aeruginosa extracellular keratinase production was 1756.36 ± 2.57 U/mL at 72 h and 2055.45 ± 50.14 U/mL at 96 h, respectively. Analysis of the feather hydrolysates showed a relatively high abundance of arginine (3.18%) and glycine (3.26%) for FGNn and glutamic acid (6.05%), serine (3.31%), aspartic acid (4.74%), glycine (3.71%), alanine (3.43%), valine (3.09%), and leucine (3.23%) for GNFx. The keratinolytic proteases showed pH and temperature optima of 8.0 and 50°C against FGNn, and 8.0 and 60°C against GNFx. GNFx keratinase was thermostable, displaying a half-life time of more than 60 min at 80°C. In addition, GNFx keratinolytic enzyme was chemical agent tolerant post-treatment. The findings underlined the significance of C. proteolyticum FGNn and P. aeruginosa GNFx as suitable in the valorisation of keratinous biomass. Also, the robust stability profile of GNFx keratinase highlights its prospects in green technology.

A Review on the Prospective Applications of Fungal Keratinases

Keratin is the most abundant insoluble protein in the epithelial cells of vertebrates and represents the major constituents of skin, hair, feathers, wool, and nails. It is among the hardest-to-degrade animal protein, the major component in poultry feathers. Keratinases are exciting proteolytic enzymes that display the capability to degrade the insoluble protein keratin, recalcitrance to common proteolytic enzymes like pepsin, trypsin, and papain. Keratinases are versatile enzymes gaining momentum in the field of Biotechnology with potential applications. As the keratin is too hard to degrade, substrates like hair, hoof, horn, feather nail etc. can be treated effectively with keratinases, which is considered as the remarkable application of the enzyme. The poultry feather degradation using keratinase improve the nutritional value of feather meal and can be applied for the production of rare amino acids like proline, cysteine, serine, and methionine. The potential use of these enzymes have been associated with cosmetic industry and acne treatment. The other applications of keratinase include the production of biofuel, detergent, films, coatings, glues and pesticidal toxins, degumming of silk, scale removal from wool fibre, degradation of prions etc. Keratinases are mainly produced by different microorganisms like fungi and bacteria which are considered as biodegradable, eco-friendly enzymes without any harmful effects like that of the chemical counterparts. As the separation of bacterial keratinase is a cost intensive process compared to fungal keratinase, the review is focussed on isolation, purification and prospective applications of fungal keratinase.

Recent Review on the Extraction and Qualitative Assay of Cysteine and Other Amino Acids from Vellore Feather Waste and Molecular Docking Studies of Cysteine for Pharmacological Applications.

Products produced from waste are a relatively recent innovation. Feather substrates are abundant in keratin content and improper disposal can cause ecosystem contamination. However, these pollutants can be transformed into value-added products for industrial application. Physical, chemical and cutting-edge microbiological methods were utilized for decomposing keratin and aid in the identification andestimation of amino acids from poultry feather wastes. These beneficialapproaches are receiving more attention due to their retrieval of harmless and value addedbyproducts. These keratin-based compounds are used widely in pharmaceutical, livestock feed, fertilizer, and a variety of other industrial sectors. Since keratin is primarily consisting of amino acids, it can be utilized to affirm and estimate the amino acids in these feather substrates. This study primarily highlights the various methodologies employed for the qualitative estimation of amino acids in feather waste samples and the inhibitory activity of keratinase enzyme by EDTA and pepstatin in order to accumulate amino acids for drug delivery purpose and their importance in various pharmaceutical industries. In addition to that, molecular docking studies of cysteine with many standard pharmaceutical drugs like acetaminophen, pethidine, methylphenidate, carbamazepine, cillin and amlodipine were performed using autodock to demonstrate how cysteine greatly reduces conventional drug toxicity and its side effects.

Biodegradation and valorization of feather waste using the keratinase-producing bacteria and their application in environmentally hazardous industrial processes

Poultry feathers are widely discarded as waste worldwide and are considered an environmental pollutant and a reservoir of pathogenic bacteria. Therefore, developing sustainable and environmentally friendly methods for managing feather waste is one of the important environmental protection requirements. In this study, we investigated a rapid and eco–friendly method for the degradation and valorization of feather waste using keratinase–producing Pseudomonas geniculata H10, and evaluated the applicability of keratinase in environmentally hazardous chemical processes. Strain H10 completely degraded chicken feathers within 48 h by producing keratinase using them as sources of carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur. The culture contained a total of 402.8 μM amino acids, including 8 essential amino acids, which was higher than the chemical treatment. Keratinase was a serine-type metalloprotease with optimal temperature and pH of 30 °C and 9, respectively, and showed relatively high stability at 10–40 °C and pH 3–10. Keratinase was also able to degrade various insoluble keratins such as duck feathers, wool, human hair, and nails. Furthermore, keratinase exhibited more efficient depilation and wool modification than chemical treatment, as well as novel functionalities such as nematicidal and exfoliating activities. This suggests that strain H10 is a promising candidate for the efficient degradation and valorization of feather waste, as well as the improvement of current industrial processes that use hazardous chemicals.

Multi-residue determination of five quinoxalines and three their metabolites in poultry feathers and its application for depletions of olaquindox and quincetone in chickens

A method for the simultaneous determination of eight quinoxalines and their metabolites in poultry feathers was developed in this study using ultra-performance liquid chromatography combine with quadrupole linear ion trap electrostatic field orbit trap high resolution mass spectrometer. Specificity, matrix effect, linearity, trueness, repeatability, reproducibility, and stability using the Commission of the European Communities, Regulation (EU) 2021/808. The correlation coefficients were all greater than 0.99. The average recoveries of the eight compounds ranged from 76.1% to 112.8%, with coefficient of variation of less than 15%. The limits of detection and quantification of the method were 0.04–0.1 μg/kg and 0.12–0.3 μg/kg, respectively. The method has been successfully applied to depletions of olaquindox and quincetone in feathers of laying hens. Methylquinoxaline-2-carboxylic acid and quincetone are the main metabolites in olaquindox and quincetone in feather, respectively.

Synthesis and characterization of keratinase laden green synthesized silver nanoparticles for valorization of feather keratin

This study focuses on the efficient and cost-effective synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using plant extracts, which have versatile and non-toxic applications. The research objectives include synthesizing AgNPs from readily available plant extracts, optimizing their production and multi scale characterization, along with exploring their use for enzyme immobilization and mitigation of poultry feather waste. Among the plant extracts tested, the flower extract of Hibiscus rosa-sinensis (HF) showed the most potential for AgNP synthesis. The synthesis of HF-mediated AgNPs was optimized using response surface methodology (RSM) for efficient and environment friendly production. Additionally, the keratinase enzyme obtained from Bacillus sp. NCIM 5802 was covalently linked to AgNPs, forming a keratinase nanocomplex (KNC) whose biochemical properties were evaluated. The KNC demonstrated optimal activity at pH 10.0 and 60 °C and it displayed remarkable stability in the presence of various inhibitors, metal ions, surfactants, and detergents. Spectroscopic techniques such as FTIR, UV–visible, and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis were employed to investigate the formation of biogenic HF-AgNPs and KNC, confirming the presence of capping and stabilizing agents. The morphological characteristics of the synthesized AgNPs and KNC were determined using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and particle size analysis. The study highlighted the antimicrobial, dye scavenging, and antioxidant properties of biogenic AgNPs and KNC, demonstrating their potential for various applications. Overall, this research showcases the effectiveness of plant extract-driven green synthesis of AgNPs and the successful development of keratinase-laden nanocomplexes, opening possibilities for their use in immobilizing industrial and commercial enzymes.