This study modeled and optimized the operational conditions for the extraction of keratin from waste chicken feathers via alkaline hydrolysis method. Response Surface methodology using Box-Behnken design was used to investigate the effect of time, temperature and the concentration of both sodium hydroxide and sodium bisulphite as an extraction solvent on the keratin hydrolysate and protein yield. The coefficients of determination (R²) of 0.77 and 0.74 were obtained for keratin hydrolysate and protein yield models, respectively demonstrating the fitness of the models to navigate the optimization space. The optimum parameters were temperature (87 °C), time (111 min), sodium hydroxide (1.78%) and sodium bisulphite (0.5%). The yields of keratin hydrolysate and protein after validation were 68.3% and 65.2% respectively. Protein analysis via the CHNS analyser showed the elemental composition of 13.85% N, 47.25% C, 6.90% H and 2.8% S. The molecular weight of the extracted keratin ranged between 10-15 kDa and 3–10 kDa. Ultimate analysis by FTIR and NMR confirmed the presence of amide, carboxylic groups and alkyl side chains of amino acids. The results of this study proved that chicken feathers, typically disposed of by the poultry slaughterhouses, would be able to serve as a great sustainable source of keratin protein for the manufacture of value-added products like bio-adhesives.

本研究模拟并优化了碱性水解法从废鸡毛中提取角蛋白的操作条件。使用Box-Behnken设计的Response Surface方法，研究了时间，温度以及氢氧化钠和亚硫酸氢钠（作为萃取溶剂）的浓度对角蛋白水解产物和蛋白质产量的影响。测定系数（R ²对于角蛋白水解物和蛋白质产量模型，分别获得了0.77和0.74的），证明了模型在优化空间中的适应性。最佳参数为温度（87°C），时间（111分钟），氢氧化钠（1.78％）和亚硫酸氢钠（0.5％）。验证后，角蛋白水解物和蛋白质的产率分别为68.3％和65.2％。通过CHNS分析仪进行的蛋白质分析显示元素成分为13.85％N，47.25％C，6.90％H和2.8％S。提取的角蛋白的分子量在10-15 kDa和3-10 kDa之间。通过FTIR和NMR的最终分析证实了氨基酸的酰胺，羧基和烷基侧链的存在。这项研究的结果证明，通常由家禽屠宰场处理过的鸡羽毛，