ThermoK: Thermophilic break-down of keratin-laden biomass waste
Focus on feather degradation
The ThermoK project addresses the use of thermophilic anaerobic bacteria and their heat-adapted enzymes to degrade keratin-laden waste material. We focus on chichen feathers, an enormous rest resource from the poultry industry. Microbial decomposition using selected thermophiles results in products with potential use as feed components or fertilizers (partially hydrolysed keratin) and higher-value products e.g. peptides and amino acids.
Funded by the ERA-Net Cofund program on Food Systems and Climate
Partners:
- University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway - Nils-Kåre Birkeland
- University of Exeter, Exeter, UK - Jennifer Littlechild
- CEA, Bagnols-sur-Cèze, France - Jean Armengaud
- University of the Free State, Bloemfountain, South Africa - Dirk Opperman
- University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya - Francis Mulaa
- Norwegian Research Center, Stavanger, Norway - Catherine Boccadoro
