Composition analysis and application of degradation products of whole feathers through a large scale of fermentation

• Published in: Environmental science and pollution research international Vol. 19; no. 7; pp. 2690 - 2696
• Main Authors: Cao, Zhang-Jun, Lu, Dan, Luo, Lai-Sheng, Deng, Yun-Xia, Bian, Yong-Gang, Zhang, Xing-Qun, Zhou, Mei-Hua
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer-Verlag 01.08.2011; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Abattoirs; Air flow; Amino acids; Animals; Aquatic Pollution; Atmospheric Protection/Air Quality Control/Air Pollution; Bacteria; Biodegradation; Bioreactors; Bioremediation; By products; Conservation of Energy Resources; Degradation products; Earth and Environmental Science; Ecotoxicology; Environment; Environmental Chemistry; Environmental degradation; Environmental Health; Environmental Pollutants; Environmental science; Feathers; Fermentation; Fertilizers; Hair; Hair Preparations; Humans; Industrial Waste; Inoculation; Keratin; Laboratories; Leaves; Metal ions; Nitrogen; Organic contaminants; Oxygen saturation; Peptides; Plant Development; Plant growth; Poultry; Proteins; Recycling - methods; Refuse Disposal; Research Article; Seeds; Stenotrophomonas maltophilia; Stenotrophomonas maltophilia - metabolism; Studies; Time Factors; Waste Water Technology; Water Management; Water Pollution Control; China; Submerged fermentation; Biorefinery; Whole feather; DHHJ; Hair care; Leaf fertilizer
• ISSN: 0944-1344; 1614-7499
• DOI: 10.1007/s11356-012-0763-x

Purpose Feathers are one of the most abundant bioresources. They are discarded as waste in most cases and could cause environmental pollution. On the other hand, keratin constituted by amino acids is the main component of feathers. In this article, we reported on biorefined feathers and integrants and application of degraded products. Materials and methods The fermentation of whole chicken feathers with Stenotrophomonas maltophilia DHHJ in a scale-up of a 5-L bioreactor was investigated in this article. The fermentation process was controlled at 0.08 MPa pressure, 2.5 L/min airflow, and 300 rpm as 100% oxygen saturation level, 40°C, and pH 7.8. Results Feathers were almost completely degraded in the tested fermentation reaction with the following conditions: 80 g of whole feathers in 3 L fermentation broth for 72 h, seed age of 16 h, 100 mL inoculation amount, and 50% oxygen saturation level. The degraded products contain 397.1 mg/L soluble protein that has mass weight ranging from 10 to 160 kD, 336.9 mg/L amino acids, and many kinds of metal ions. The fermentation broth was evaluated as leaf fertilizer and found to increase plant growth to 82% or 66% for two- or fourfold dilutions, respectively. In addition, in a hair care assay, the broth showed a hair protective function by increasing weight, flexibility, and strength of the treated hair. Conclusions The whole feathers were degraded completely by S. maltophilia DHHJ. The degraded product includes many factors to life, such as peptides, amino acids, and mineral elements. It could be applied as leaf fertilizer and hair care product.