Fibers from peanut proteins

Ardil Fiber from peanut protein ICI, Great Britain... 

The concept of the preparation of a fiber from peanut protein was a result of the x-ray interpretation of the denaturation of the protein in solution (15-17,178,179). The native protein, occurring in a coiled, non-fibrous configuration, is denatured in alkaline or Urea solutions to form fibrous molecules. The orientation of these fibrous molecules and the restraining of them in a fixed position have resulted in the preparation of a wool-like fiber. The details of the preparation of this fiber have been extensively reviewed elsewhere (2,66). 

Fibers, glues, sizings, and other industrial products have been made experimentally from peanut protein. The production of a wool-like fiber from peanut protein is being expanded to an industrial scale. 

Peanut seeds contain about 50% oil and 25% protein and provide about 2600 cal/lb. The compounds found in peanuts are used in paints, varnishes, lubricating oils, leather dressings, furniture polish, insecticides, and nitroglycerine. Soaps are made from the saponified oil as well as several cosmetic bases. The protein fraction is used in the textile fibers Ardil and Sarelon. The shells are used in plastics, wallboard, abrasives, and as a fuel. The chemicals furfural, xylose, cellulose, and mucilage are obtained from peanuts. The tops are used for hay, and the press cake is used for animal feed and fertilizer. 

Robert Boyer of H. Ford s Edison Institute was awarded an important patent in 1945 (Boyer et al., 1945) for producing textile fibers from soybean meal for use in automobile upholstery. In addition to soy protein, casein, corn zein, and peanut protein were also used to produce regenerated protein fibers. H. Ford once wore a suit made from soy protein fibers, which was reportedly quite itchy when dry and odiferous when wet. Soy protein fiber technology never attained commercial textile production... 

Regenerated proteins from casein (lanital), peanuts (ardil), soybeans (aralac), and zine (vicara) are used as specialty fibers. Regenerated and modified cellulose products, including acetate, are still widely used today and the production of fibers is similar to that described above for synthetic fiber production. Most regenerated cellulose (rayon) is produced by the viscose process where an aqueous solution of the sodium salt of cellulose xanthate is precipitated in an acid bath. The relatively weak fibers produced by this wet spinning process are stretched to produce strong rayon. 

These regenerated proteins are obtained from milk (casein), soya beans, corn, and peanuts. More or less complex chemical separation and purification processes are required to isolate them from the parent materials. They may be dissolved in aqueous solutions of caustic, and wet-spun to form fibers, which usually require further chemical... 

Apart from price and availability considerations, the composition of an oil is only one of the factors that enter into decisions to choose one oilseed over another in world markets. Two other important considerations are the proportion of meal in the seed and the quality of the meal. For example, soybeans contain only 18% oil hence a much higher proportion of their total value lies in the high protein meal than in the oil. Conversely, rapeseed peanuts, sunflower, and cottonseed contain 30-40% oil, therefore oil is the more valuable component. Then the quality of the meal becomes a very critical factor in determining the commercial value of one oilseed versus another. Sunflower seed, for example, produces an inferior meal, which is high in fiber and low in protein (23%) meals from cottonseed and peanut are of medium quality. 

The basal ration consisted of Purina starter to which was added about 8% peanut meal. The aflatoxin in the ration was provided from aflatoxin spiked peanut meal. The Purina starter had not less than 18% crude protein or 3% fat, and not more than 6% crude fiber, 7% ash, or 2% added minerals. 

When nuts are harvested, dehulled, shelled and defatted, the residue is excellent as a feed for domestic animals. The protein, carbohydrates, fiber, minerals, most of the vitamins, and some of the fat remain in the residual cake or powder. The meal of coconuts, sunflowers, peanuts, and other nuts and seed is ground and/or pelletized as concentrates in feed for many animals. The residue from the respective nuts or seed is formulated into balanced rations for dairy cattle, beef cattle, racing horses, draft horses, pigs, sheep, poultry, turkeys, wild birds, fancy birds, catfish, goldfish and other domestic animals. 

Protein isolates from milk, soybeans, peanuts, cottonseed, and corn have been extruded to form bristles and textile fibers. For a number of years, these manmade, wool-like fibers, principally derived from milk casein, were on the commercial market in the U.S. and Western Europe. Protein wastes, such as chicken feathers, have also been extruded to form fibers with textile properties. 

These regenerated proteins are obtained from milk (casein), soya beans, corn, and peanuts. More or less complex chemical separation and purification processes are required to isolate them from the parent materials. They may be dissolved in aqueous solutions of caustic, and wet-spun to form fibers, which usually require further chemical treatment as, for example, with formaldehyde. This reduces the tendency to swell or dissolve in subsequent wet-processing operations or final end uses. These fibers are characterized by a wool-like feel, low strength, and ease of dyeing. Nevertheless, for economic and other reasons they have not been able to compete successfully with either wool (after which they were modeled) or with other manufactured fibers. 

Manufactured protein fibers, often called azlons, are man-made fibers produced from animal or plant proteins. Examples of protein sources are milk, chicken feathers, soy beans, peanuts, corns, etc. Traditionally, most manufactured protein fibers were made directly from proteins dissolved in solvents. Recent trends in the research and development of manufactured protein fibers include the use of biochemistry to modify the source proteins and the introduction of synthetic polymers such as polyvinyl alcohol and polyacrylonitrile to improve the fiber mechanical properties. Antibacterial agents are often being added during the fiber formation process to provide health benefits to the manufactured protein fibers. As a result, the chemical structure of manufactured protein fibers is becoming more complex. 

Manufactured protein fibers typically are made from proteins of milk, peanut, com, soybean, etc. These proteins often are coiled into a compact ball-shape stmcture, with coils linked together by a large number of intermolecular bonds. Treatments have to be carried out to destroy these intermolecular bonds and align protein chains to form fibers. 

Step 1— Protein Separation In general, proteins are not in a readily acees-sible form. For example, many protein sotrrces, such as milk, peanuts and seeds, contain a large amount of oils and fats. Therefore, proteins first were separated from the source material into a suitable form for fiber formation. In some cases, the proteins also were dried and grotmded into granules. 

Various modified viscose fibers, micromodal, and modal, for example, produced from beech were not studies for biostability. Information on biostability of artificial fibers produced from lactic casein, soybean protein, maize, peanut, and com is absent. 

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