Sustainable keratin recovery process using a bio-based ionic liquid aqueous solution and its techno-economic assessment

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2023

Authors

Polesca, C (Author) Other; Al Ghatta, A (Author) Other; Passos, H (Author) FEUP; Coutinho, JAP (Author) Other; Hallett, JP (Author) Other; Freire, MG (Author) Other

Journal

Title: Green Chemistry

Vol. 25

Pages: 3995-4003

ISSN: 1463-9262

Publisher: Royal Society of Chemistry

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 0 Citations

Scopus - 0 Citations

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-00Y-CRX

DOI: 10.1039/d3gc00850a

Abstract (EN): Keratin is a biopolymer with high potential for biomaterial production, being principally investigated in hydrogel and film forms for use in tissue-engineering applications. Aiming to find sustainable solvents and develop an efficient keratin recovery process, this work used an aqueous solution of bio-based ionic liquid (IL) for the dissolution of chicken feathers. Complete dissolution of chicken feathers in an aqueous solution of cholinium acetate ([N<INF>111(2OH)</INF>][C<INF>1</INF>CO<INF>2</INF>]) was conducted at a solid : liquid weight ratio of 1 : 20 w/w, 100 degrees C for 4 h. An experimental design was carried out to optimize the keratin recovery conditions, investigating coagulant solvent, solution : coagulant weight ratio, and time. Under the optimal conditions (20.25 wt% of ethanol in water, 5 h, and solution : coagulant ratio of 1 : 1.45 w/w), 93 wt% of keratin was recovered. The IL was shown to be reusable in four successive cycles, with a yield of around 95 wt% and no significant losses in the efficiency of keratin recovery. These results demonstrate that an aqueous solution of [N<INF>111(2OH)</INF>][C<INF>1</INF>CO<INF>2</INF>] can lead to effective keratin recovery, serving as the basis for the development of a more effective and environmentally friendly process to recover biopolymers from waste. Due to the relevance of the developed process, techno-economic assessment through a comprehensive sensitivity analysis was carried out, evaluating a virtual operating biorefinery and showing a pathway that can enable the commercialization of produced keratin by the developed process. According to the process simulation, the minimum selling price for keratin is 22 $ per kg, with a small positive CO<INF>2</INF> emission (4.04 kg<INF>CO<INF>2</INF></INF> kg<INF>keratin</INF><SUP>-1</SUP>), making this process suitable for biomedical and cosmetic applications.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 9