Method for Producing Molded Bodies from Proteins

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for producing molded bodies from proteins by ionic liquids, in particular in 1,3-dialkyl-imidazolium-acetates or 1,3-dialkyl-imidazolium-chloride as solvents in which the protein is dissolved, the solution is formed into fibers and foils, or membranes, respectively, the protein is regenerated by precipitation in protide solutions, the solvent is separated by washing and the molded bodies are tried. Furthermore the invention relates to molded bodies produced by said method.

1 . Method for producing molded bodies from proteins by dissolving the same in an ionic liquid, forming the viscous solution to yield molded bodies and regenerating the protein, characterized in that
 a) the protein is finely dispersed in water under shearing action, squeezed out or filtered off, and the moist protein   b) is dispersed in an aqueous solution of the ionic liquid under addition of stabilizers, the water is being removed under shearing, heat supply and vacuum, and is transferred into a homogeneous solution,   c) the solution is fed into a spin pack where the former passes the spinning capillary/spinning capillaries and the slot of the spinneret, respectively, and the solution jets formed into capillaries or into plate and tubular foils, respectively, are directed under draught through an air gap, in that the oriented solution jets are precipitated by treatment with a tempered solution which is mixable with the ionic liquid, however, is a precipitant to the protein, the protein solution jets being separated by deviation or reversion at the end of the precipitation line from the coagulation bath, and the molded body is doffed as a filament yarn, a fiber cable and a foil/membrane, respectively, subjected to a one and multi-step, respectively, washing for removing the precipitant, dried or cut into staple fibers and dried, respectively   d) applies to and evenly distributes the solution upon a smooth plate by a doctor blade and by treatment with a tempered solution which is mixable with the ionic liquid, however, is a precipitant to the protein, regenerates the protein and doffs the molded body as a foil/membrane, subjects it to a one, respectively, multi-step washing for removing the precipitant and dries it.   
   
   
       2 . Method as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that native, highly molecular fibrous or globular proteins are employed which form strong intra-molecular and inter-molecular hydrogen bridge linkages or mixtures of such proteins with other tow and/or high molecular organic or inorganic substances soluble and/or finely enough dispersible in the ionic liquids. 
   
   
       3 . Method as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that silk fibroin of the silk moth Bombyx mori, maize zein or wheat gluten are employed as proteins. 
   
   
       4 . Method as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that 1,3-dialkyl-imidazolium-acetate or 1,3-dialkyl-imidazolium-chloride are used as ionic liquid. 
   
   
       5 . Method as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that the used dissolution temperature lies in a range of from 80-130° C. 
   
   
       6 . Method as claimed in  claim 5 , characterized in that the used dissolution temperature lies in a range of from 80-90° C. 
   
   
       7 . Method as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that the spinning solution includes stabilizers in the form of organic compounds having at least one conjugate double bond and two hydroxyl groups respectively amino-groups. 
   
   
       8 . Method as claimed in  claim 7 , characterized in that the organic compounds used as stabilizers having at least one conjugate double bond and two hydroxyl groups respectively amino-groups are hydro quinine, phenylene diamine, gallic acid ester or tannin. 
   
   
       9 . Method as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that the ionic liquid is recycled from the coagulating bath. 
   
   
       10 . Molded bodies, for example, filament yarn, fiber cables, foils and membranes produced by the method as claimed in  claim 1 .