Eco-Friendly Method of hydrolyzing Keratinaceous

Eco-Friendly Method of hydrolyzing Keratinaceous

Eco-Friendly Method of hydrolyzing Keratinaceous Material by Employing Crude Alkaline Protease from Bacillus Cereus Strain wwcp1 for formulation of animal feeds

Waste keratinaceous materials such as feathers, wool, scales claws, and hair are currently major environmental polluters in urban areas and cities. These waste are largely disposed in landfill, rivers, lakes, or even burned in open field posing health, economic, environmental challenges. It is worth noting that keratin is an abundant bio-renewable resource that can produce sustainable industrial materials but no action is being done to valorize. Our sustained effort have eventually made a breakthrough in finding an eco-friendly solution that will harnest potential value keratinaceous waste. We have managed to screen and isolate alkaliphiles bacteria which produce alkaline protease enzymes capable of hydrolysing keratinaceous material within hours. The present invention discloses an eco-friendly manufacturing method in which a crude alkaline protease is used for hydrolyzing and preparing feather protein concentrate powder by employing novel enzyme from Bacillus Cereus Strain wwcp1. The method comprises the steps: (1) Shredding/cutting the feathers into small sizes to increase surface area; (2) Rigorous feathers cleaning to eliminate dirt and impurities; (3) Manufacturing Crude alkaline protease from Bacillus Cereus Strain wwcp1; (4) Use of the manufactured enzyme to performing enzymatic feather hydrolysis to obtain feather solution; (5) Concentrating feather solution by drying to obtain protein feather powder; (6) use of obtained protein feather powder to fortify animal feeds. The technology is simplified, suitable for large scale industrial application and carried out at ambient environmental conditions of temperature, pressure and pH. The enzymatically solubilized feathers contain high protein concentration and essential minerals. The hydrolysate contains over 16 amino acids with high content of essential amino acids including histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, threonine, and valine. The soluble feather powder can be used as a source of protein, mineral salt and amino acid for feeds fortification. Generally, this invention is in part a green chemistry and environmentally friendly process of solid waste management and recycling to eliminate environmental pollution.

PARTNERS

1.     University of Kabianga

2.     University of Nairobi

INVENTORS

1.     Wycliffe Chisutia Wanyonyi

2.    Faith Moim Chemtai

3.    Mwakazi Eva Dama

4.    Jon Mmari Onyari

5.    Francis Jackim Mulaa

6.    Paul Mwanza Shiundu