USE OF NITROGEN-CONTAINING COMPOUNDS AS PLASTICIZERS FOR PEPTIDE-BASED BIOPOLYMERS AND USES THEREOF

摘要

A novel method of reducing the melting point of a peptide-based biopolymer using a nitrogen- containing compound as a plasticizer is provided. The peptide-based biopolymer can be keratin or silk. The nitrogen-containing compound can be one or more amino acids or other nitrogen- containing compounds (except urea), all of which have a melting temperature above approximately 133°C, the decomposition temperature of urea. Pellets made using this novel process can be used as animal feed and soil amendments (fertilizer) to increase the adsorption of amino acids in the animal or in the soil, respectively.