Chicken Feather Degradation Using Thermus aquaticus YT-1 and Application of Keratinolytic Protease Produced

Abstract

ABSTRACT
Aim of the study undertaken was to develop a process to manage chicken feather waste, without use of potential infectious microorganism. Biodegradation of chicken feather mediated by production of keratinolytic protease involving use of non- pathogenic thermophile Thermus aquaticus was investigated. The structural complexity of native chicken feather acts as inducer to increase protease production as compared to feather meal. The keratinolytic protease produced demonstrated more than 50 % stability in presence of 1g/dl commercially available detergents. The stain removal efficiency in presence of detergent is comparable to protease used in commercial detergents. Blood stain removal efficiency was greater than commercial detergents; thus the protease can be used in heavy duty hospital detergents. Biodegradation by Thermus aquaticus presents a superior method for management of chicken feather waste and its bioconversion into useful value added products like keratin hydrolysate and protease which have important industrial applications.

Keywords: Keratinolysis , Thermoalkaliphilic Protease, Chicken feather, Detergent