Abstract

Waste wool is one of the largest waste solids of animal skin processing. After abandoning the application of feed to avoid Spongiform Encephalopathy, the application of agro-ecological wool keratin fertiliser is an alternative approach for utilising this waste. Because hair keratin has a strong ability to resist degradation in nature and to avoid using large amounts of water and chemicals electrochemical degradation was used in this experiment to achieve quick and efficient absorption by plants. At a current density of 150A/m2, a sodium chloride content of 6%, and a temperature of 25~27°C for 2 hours, 90% of 10g of wool can be electrolysed into a microemulsion. The electrochemical wool keratin degradation product (KDP) contains oligopeptides based on tripeptides of molecular weight 359(Mn) with a mean aggregate particle size of 458.8nm in solution. KDP has a very different composition than raw wool, contains a large amount of ammonium salt and taurine, and is an excellent raw material for agricultural fertiliser. The release of nitrogen in soil and the growth of pak choy indicated the effective utilisation of wool keratin after electrochemical degradation.