(Image source from: thestatesman.com)

The scientists from the Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (IICT) came up with a plan to convert the keratin waste into fertilizer and animal feed. The waste includes human hair, feathers from poultry, and wool. The technology was developed by the scientists of IICT led by Professor AB Pandit. It can easily convert the waste into fertilizer and animal feed which is efficient and environment-friendly. This technology is also three times economical and scalable than the existing used technologies as per the scientists of IICT. The technology will make amino acid-rich liquid fertilizers when compared to the products available in the market.

The team of scientists used advanced oxidation to convert the waste materials into useful fertilizers. A pre-treatment is required and it is followed by hydrolysis of keratin through a technique named Hydrodynamic Cavitation. This involves vaporization, bubble generation and bubble implosion in the flowing liquid. This process costs high and needs multiple processes. If processed through a large-scale plant, 1 ton is up to 3 folds cheaper than the existing product in the market. IICT in association with Revoltech Technologies Private Limited, Gujarat is implementing this technology. Several liquid biofertilizers can be made and they will be available for farmers soon.

By Siva Kumar