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  • Title: Utilization of keratin-containing biowaste to produce biohydrogen.
    Author: Bálint B, Bagi Z, Tóth A, Rákhely G, Perei K, Kovács KL.
    Journal: Appl Microbiol Biotechnol; 2005 Dec; 69(4):404-10. PubMed ID: 15856225.
    Abstract:
    A two-stage fermentation system was constructed to test and demonstrate the feasibility of biohydrogen generation from keratin-rich biowaste. We isolated a novel aerobic Bacillus strain (Bacillus licheniformis KK1) that displays outstanding keratinolytic activity. The isolated strain was employed to convert keratin-containing biowaste into a fermentation product that is rich in amino acids and peptides. The process was optimized for the second fermentation step, in which the product of keratin fermentation--supplemented with essential minerals--was metabolized by Thermococcus litoralis, an anaerobic hyperthermophilic archaeon. T. litoralis grew on the keratin hydrolysate and produced hydrogen gas as a physiological fermentation byproduct. Hyperthermophilic cells utilized the keratin hydrolysate in a similar way as their standard nutrient, i.e., bacto-peptone. The generalization of the findings to protein-rich waste treatment and production of biohydrogen is discussed and possible means of further improvements are listed.
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