Fig. 5: Closed-loop recycling of LiBr solution. | Nature Communications

Fig. 5: Closed-loop recycling of LiBr solution.

From: Entropy-driven denaturation enables sustainable protein regeneration through rapid gel-solid transition

Fig. 5

a, Schematic showing the regeneration protocol of keratin waste with closed-loop recycling of LiBr solution. b Extraction yield of keratin extracted from wool and keratin extracted from goose feathers. Data are presented as mean ± s.d. (n = 7 for wool, n = 3 for feathers, independent extraction experiments). c Comparison of the TGA profile shows no major change in the LiBr solution after 5 cycles of extraction. d, e TG-FTIR of the LiBr solution recycled after keratin separation. f Environmental impact assessment of producing 1 kg keratin via agriculture (raw wool), urea extraction, and this work. Calculations conducted using the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) 100-year time horizon global warming potentials (GWP 100a) with ecoinvent 3.9.1 database. Detailed calculations described in Supplementary Tables 3 and 4. g Different keratin samples were regenerated from (i) wool, (ii) goose feathers, (iii) wool clothes, and (iv) human hair. Keratin samples were shaped into the word describing their sources using the injection molding method. Scale bars, 1 cm. Source data are provided as a Source Data file.

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