<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>In the present research biocomposites based on extracts of collagen and keratin recovered from the leather industry by-products were made and the specific properties for applications in agriculture and industry were studied. To this aim, collagen and keratin have been extracted from bovine leather and sheep wool by-products and have been added and crosslinked with recognized compounds for reduced environmental impact (glycerol, vegetable tanning extract, essential oils with fungicidal properties and insecticides). The biocomposite properties were evaluated on the basis of complex analytical investigations on chemical structure, texture, contact angle, mechanical resistance, water vapor permeability and water absorption, biodegradation, germination and plant biomass growth. The biocomposites have demonstrated pelliculogenic properties and nitrogen controlled release to stimulate germination and nutrition of rape seedlings, which promotes them for agricultural applications, but also other surface properties have been identified, for industrial applications, for example in leather finishing for special destinations. Addition of odorous principles with controlled release recommends this type of biocomposites for environmentally friendly products, maintenance of cleaning, etc.</p></abstract>

In the present research biocomposites based on extracts of collagen and keratin recovered from the leather industry by-products were made and the specific properties for applications in agriculture and industry were studied. To this aim, collagen and keratin have been extracted from bovine leather and sheep wool by-products and have been added and crosslinked with recognized compounds for reduced environmental impact (glycerol, vegetable tanning extract, essential oils with fungicidal properties and insecticides). The biocomposite properties were evaluated on the basis of complex analytical investigations on chemical structure, texture, contact angle, mechanical resistance, water vapor permeability and water absorption, biodegradation, germination and plant biomass growth. The biocomposites have demonstrated pelliculogenic properties and nitrogen controlled release to stimulate germination and nutrition of rape seedlings, which promotes them for agricultural applications, but also other surface properties have been identified, for industrial applications, for example in leather finishing for special destinations. Addition of odorous principles with controlled release recommends this type of biocomposites for environmentally friendly products, maintenance of cleaning, etc.

Biocomposites based on collagen and keratin with properties for agriculture and industrie applications

Soil Sciences Department of Agriculture Faculty

University of Agronomic Science and Veterinary Medicine

The EuroBiotech Journal

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

In the present research biocomposites based on extracts of collagen and keratin recovered from the leather industry by-products were made and the specific...

				Crosslinker / additive, %
No.	Biocomposites	Description of biocomposites	Gelatin, %	Tara extract	Glycerol	Keratin hydrolysate	1:1 mix of essential oils
No.	Biocomposites	Description of biocomposites	Gelatin, %	1	GBT	Crosslinked GBF gelatin	88.0	4.0	8.0	-	-
2	GBKT	Crosslinked-GBF gelatin additivated	80.0	4.0	8.0	8.0	-
3	GBCA	Crosslinked-BPC gelatin additivated	60.5	9.1	12.1	18.2	0.1

Number of monitoring days	% nitrogen solubilised from the film
	P1	P2
0.4	4.14	4.45
2	7.73	8.48
3	9.10	9.78
6	16.09	11.01
10	17.03	16.67
12	19.50	18.25
14	21.51	17.60
20	29.58	22.47
25	66.22	26.19
32	71.91	32.75

Biocomposites based on collagen and keratin with properties for agriculture and industrie applications

Article Category: Research Article

Published Online: Jul 25, 2019

Page range: 160 - 166

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/ebtj-2019-0019

Keywords
Biocomposite, crosslinked, surface properties, controlled nitrogen release

© 2019 Mihaela-Doina Niculescu, Doru-Gabriel Epure, Magdalena Lasoń – Rydel, Carmen Gaidau, Mihai Gidea, Cristina Enascuta, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Figure 1

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Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

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Figure 8

Description of biocomposites based on collagen and keratin

The dynamic of contact angle

Nitrogen release rate through film biodegradation

Biocomposites based on collagen and keratin with properties for agriculture and industrie applications

Article Category: Research Article

Published Online: Jul 25, 2019

Page range: 160 - 166

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/ebtj-2019-0019

KeywordsBiocomposite, crosslinked, surface properties, controlled nitrogen release

© 2019 Mihaela-Doina Niculescu, Doru-Gabriel Epure, Magdalena Lasoń – Rydel, Carmen Gaidau, Mihai Gidea, Cristina Enascuta, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Description of biocomposites based on collagen and keratin

The dynamic of contact angle

Nitrogen release rate through film biodegradation

Keywords
Biocomposite, crosslinked, surface properties, controlled nitrogen release