Upcycling Waste Hair and Feathers Derived Keratin Into Intact Cortical Cell-Derived Micro-Units via Periodate Oxidation: Applications and Life Cycle Assessment

This study introduces a novel periodate oxidation method for extracting keratin's nano-micro structures from waste hair and feathers, focusing on maintaining the integrity of cortical cell-derived micro-units. The process successfully delaminated fibers into spindle-shaped micro-units with dimensions of 40-80 μm in length and 5-8 μm in width, achieving extraction yields of 31.28 wt% from hair and 20.64 wt% from feathers. These micro-units, along with keratin-derived fragments, effectively stabilized oil-in-water emulsions and prevented droplet aggregation. A life cycle assessment confirmed the environmental sustainability of the keratin-emulsion production process, highlighting the potential for high-quality keratin-based biomaterials in industrial applications.