Ionic-liquid-processed keratin-based biocomposite films with cellulose and chitin for sustainable dye removal

Poultry is a widely consumed meat worldwide; however, its industrial processing generates a significant amount of feather waste. Since the major component of chicken feathers is keratin (90 wt%), this study focused on using acetate-based ionic liquids (ILs) to fully dissolve chicken feathers and recover keratin, using a sustainable and cost-effective approach, ultimately allowing waste valorisation. The recovered keratin was processed into films, either pure or blended with cellulose and alpha-chitin, aiming to develop a structural polymer biocomposite with improved mechanical properties. Experimental parameters were evaluated using different blend ratios, altering the pH, and adding glycerol as a plasticiser. Physico-chemical analysis revealed that all films exhibited hydrophilic behaviour and are stable up to 160 degrees C. Furthermore, the tensile strength of the keratin-based films significantly increased by adding chitin (achieving up to 66 MPa). Considering the growing significance of biopolymer-based films in wastewater treatment applications, the keratin-based films were evaluated as adsorbents for dye removal. Reactive Blue 4 (RB4) was used as a model dye, and the adsorption kinetics and isotherms were investigated. Between the studied films, the maximum adsorption capacity (55.7 mg g-1) was obtained for the keratin film, emphasising the potential of this biomaterial in wastewater treatment. Abundant biopolymers derived from wastes were used to prepare bio-based films, resulting in notable enhancements in their properties and promising potential as effective adsorbent materials.