Lime treatment of keratinous materials for the generation of highly digestible animal feed: 2. Animal hair

摘要

Air-dried cow hair was treated using Ca(OH)(2) (insoluble in water but dissolved during reaction) at 100 degrees C. To obtain a liquid product rich in amino acids, a well-insulated, stirred reactor was used to perform the hydrolysis process for different time periods. High lime loadings and a long treatment period convert 70% of cow hair to soluble amino acids and polypeptides. Protein solubilization varies with lime loading especially for the long-term treatment (t > 12 h) showing that the hydroxyl group is required as a catalyst for the hydrolysis reaction and that lime is consumed during the process; as a consequence lower lime loading generate lower conversions.