Patent ID: 7169896
Filing Date: 2007-01-30
Classification: A61K,C08H,C08L

Abstract:
1. A process for producing partially modified and partially hydrolysed keratin, the process comprises the steps of (a) solubilising keratin from a keratin-fibre containing starting material in an aqueous solution using a reducing agent at an alkaline pH of between pH 10 and pH 13.5 and at a temperature of at least 40° C., and (b) partially modifying the —SH groups of the solubilised keratin by alkylation, characterised in that the solubilised keratin is partially hydrolysed as a result of the conditions of steps (a) and (b) and an optional further hydrolysis step (c), whereby the solubilised keratin is partially hydrolysed such that at least 50% of the solubilised keratin molecules has a molecular weight higher than 1 kDa and less than 10.4 kDa and whereby the solubilised keratin has molecular weight distribution that is equal to a distribution of molecular weights of keratin that is obtained when 40 grams of cleaned and dried poultry feathers are solubilised in one liter of an aqueous solution of 0.05–0.5 M sodium sulphide at a pH between pH 10.0 and pH 13.5, at a temperature between 40 and 80° C. for 30–90 minutes.