Decomposition of Keratin-containing Waste (Nail, Hair)

Description

A Hungarian research institute offers a microbiological method to decompose keratin (the main protein component of nail and hair) containing waste. It gives a new environment friendly final method to decompose keratin from waste of meat processing factories. Keratin is a very stabile protein component of the nail and hair. Therefore the decomposition of keratin containing waste is a crucial and acute problem of the meat processing factories. The offered method is based on a controlled biological procedure in which a mixture of bacteria living at 50° C can decompose keratin and biomass is created. Since this process goes on at elevated temperature, it is 10-12 times faster than competing biological methods which proceed at ambient temperature.

Area of Application

Meet Processing

Advantages

Comparing to the incineration the biotechnological method provides a relatively cheap solution for the problem since this method firstly does not claim such a big investment as a combustion furnace. Secondly it does not claim so much energy as in the case of incineration. Thirdly hair and nail need not to be transported. Therefore the maintenance and running costs are low. This method is more effective than other biological methods since it goes on at elevated temperature. The method is environment friendly since it does not use any chemical agent and does not cause any harmful emission that can occur during incineration.

For further information please contact

Asian and Pacific Centre for Transfer of Technology
APCTT Building
C-2 Qutab Institutional Area
P.O.Box - 4575
New Delhi - 110 016
Tel : 91-11-26966509
Fax : 91-11-26856276