Harnessing the Potential of Feather Keratin: Valorization of a Wasted Biomass

Abstract

Dependence on the finite resource, fossil fuel, to obtain petroleum-based materials has

caused adverse environmental decline both in the acquisition and disposal of the materials. To remedy this, a sustainable raw material stream is needed that is both eco-friendly and biodegradable. Feathers, a byproduct of poultry processing, emerge as a sustainable and renewable resource. Feathers have high keratin content and are biocompatible, non-toxic, and biodegradable. The current uses of the feathers are limited leading to a majority of the feathers being disposed of in an environmentally detrimental manner. To obtain the keratin, numerous extraction techniques are employed and consequentially the extracted keratin can be utilized in the creation of valorized products. This paper aims to review various keratin extraction techniques and provide a brief overview of current applications of extracted feather keratin.