Feathers and hair contain a protein called keratin, which is edible only after a hydrolysis process. The hydrolysis system consists in breaking the peptide links of different amino acids which make up the protein, which is possible when the raw material is subjected to pressure using water vapor at a temperature between 120°C and 180°C. The crude protein’s digestibility percentage depends on the degree of hydrolysis. In order to obtain maximized digestibility parameters, these processes must be fully automated. The Continuous Hydrolyzer is recommended for large productions, used for feathers and a mixture of feathers and hairs. With the Batch Digester, the advantage lies in pre-drying the already hydrolyzed meal. The equipment is ideal for small productions.
