Method and apparatus for the washing of feathers and removing of extraneous material

Abstract

Washing system ( 1 ) suitable for continuous processing, for the pre-treatment of keratinaceous material, preferably feathers, hair or wool. The washing system ( 1 ) comprises an infeed device ( 2 ) for feeding the keratinaceous material to the washing system ( 1 ) and a washing space ( 3 ) for washing the keratinaceous material with an aqueous washing liquid. A washing liquid system for supplying and extracting the washing liquid to and from the washing space ( 3 ) is comprised in the washing system ( 1 ). The washing space ( 3 ) comprises a sinking zone wherein material with a higher density than the washing fiquid sinks below the keratinaccous material. An extracting system ( 8 ) is placed at the bottom of the sinking zone ( 6 ) for extracting the material with a higher density than the washing liquid. Furthermore, at least one washing structure ( 4 ) that sloshes the washing liquid and/or causes turbulence in the washing liquid is present in the washing space ( 3 ). Finally, an outfeed device ( 9 ) is provided for extracting the keratinaceous material from the washing system ( 1 ).

1 . A washing system suitable for continuous processing, for the pre-treatment of keratinaceous material, preferably feathers, hair or wool, comprising:
 an infeed device for feeding the keratinaceous material to the washing system;   a washing space for washing the keratinaceous material with an aqueous washing liquid;   a washing liquid system for supplying and extracting the washing liquid to and from the washing space;   wherein the washing space comprises a sinking zone wherein material with a higher density than the washing liquid sinks below the keratinaceous material;   an extracting system placed at the bottom of the sinking zone for extracting the material with a higher density than the washing liquid;   at least one washing structure that sloshes the washing liquid and/or causes turbulence in the washing liquid present in the washing space;   an outfeed device for extracting the keratinaceous material from the washing system.   
     
     
         2 . The washing system of  claim 1 , wherein the sinking zone comprises a flow system which is adapted to impart a flow to the washing liquid in the sinking zone, wherein the magnitude and direction of the flow is such that the keratinaceous material is kept in suspension and moved away from the extracting system whilst the material denser than the washing liquid still sinks towards the extracting system. 
     
     
         3 . The washing system of  claim 1 or 2 , wherein the washing space further comprises a cleaning zone for cleaning of the keratinaceous material, the sinking zone and cleaning zone positioned such that the keratinaceous material first enters the sinking zone before entering the cleaning zone, wherein at least one washing structure is located in the cleaning zone. 
     
     
         4 . The washing system of any one of  claims 1-3 , wherein the washing liquid system further comprises a washing liquid recycling system for reusing the washing liquid after use in the washing space, wherein the washing liquid recycling system comprises a washing liquid solid separation system, preferably a filter, for cleaning the washing liquid. 
     
     
         5 . The washing system of any one of  claims 1-4 , further comprising an excess washing liquid removal device for extracting excess washing liquid from the keratinaceous material after the keratinaceous material has been washed in the washing space, preferably wherein the excess washing liquid removal device extracts the excess washing liquid at the outfeed device and/or wherein the extracted excess washing liquid is reused in the washing space. 
     
     
         6 . The washing system of any one of  claims 1-5 , wherein the washing structure is cylindrically shaped and comprises one or more protrusions on the cylindrical surface, and wherein the washing structure is rotatably mounted on the washing system, preferably mounted such that when the washing structure rotates, the keratinaceous material is at least partially submerged due to the action of the protrusions. 
     
     
         7 . The washing system of any one of  claims 1-6 , wherein a bottom surface of the sinking zone is slanted towards the extracting system, and/or wherein the extracting system comprises a cork screw extractor. 
     
     
         8 . A method for the pre-treatment of keratinaceous material, preferably feathers, hair or wool, comprising the steps of:
 feeding the keratinaceous material to a washing system, the keratinaceous material comprising one or more contaminants;   washing the keratinaceous material in an aqueous washing liquid using the washing system, wherein the one or more contaminants are dissolved into the washing liquid and/or removed at least partly from the keratinaceous material by the washing liquid;   obtaining the pre-treated keratinaceous material from the washing system;   characterized in that washing is performed such that the amount of at least one of the contaminants comprised in the pre-treated keratinaceous material is below a pre-determined threshold.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein washing is performed such that the amount of at least one of the contaminants comprised in the pre-treated keratinaceous material is less than 50%, of its amount in the keratinaceous material before washing, preferably less than 40%, more preferably less than 30%, more preferably less than 20%, wherein the amounts are determined as w/w on dry weight basis. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 or 9 , wherein the one or more contaminants are selected from a group consisting of biogenic amines, preferably tyramine, putrescine, cadaverine, histamine, phenylethylamine, spermidine, and/or agmatine 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claims 8-10 , wherein washing is performed such that the amount of at least one of tyramine, putrescine, cadaverine, histamine, phenylethylamine, spermidine, and agmatine, preferably the amount of putrescine and/or cadaverine and/or tyramine, comprised in the pre-treated keratinaceous material is less than 50% of its amount in the keratinaceous material before washing, preferably less than 40%, more preferably less than 30%, more preferably less than 20%, wherein the amounts are determined as w/w on dry weight basis. 
     
     
         12 . The method of any one of the  claims 8-11 , wherein the combined amount of tyramine, putrescine, cadaverine, histamine, phenylethylamine, spermidine, and agmatine, preferably the combined amount of putrescine and/or cadaverine and/or tyramine, comprised in the pre-treated keratinaceous material is less than 50% of the amount in the keratinaceous material before washing, preferably less than 40%, more preferably less than 30%, more preferably less than 20%, wherein the amounts are determined as w/w on dry weight basis. 
     
     
         13 . The method of any one of the  claims 8-12 , wherein the washing of the keratinaceous material comprises a sinking step wherein material denser than the washing liquid sinks lower than the keratinaceous material and is subsequently extracted at a lower point than the location of the keratinaceous material. 
     
     
         14 . The method of any one of the  claims 8-13 , wherein the washing of the keratinaceous material comprises maintaining the amount of at least one biogenic amine, preferably maintaining the amount of at least one biogenic amine selected from the group consisting of tyramine, putrescine, cadaverine, histamine, phenylethylamine, spermidine, and agmatine, dissolved in the washing liquid below a predetermined threshold by extracting used washing liquid, and supplying fresh washing liquid, preferably by continuously bleeding out used washing liquid and continuously supplying fresh washing liquid. 
     
     
         15 . The method of any one of the  claims 8-14 , wherein the washing liquid further comprises a surfactant and/or a biocide and/or a degreasing agent and/or a bleaching agent and/or an organic solvent. 
     
     
         16 . The method of any one of the  claims 8-15 , wherein the amount of keratinaceous material per hour that is pre-treated is greater than or equal to 0.5 metric ton per hour, preferably greater than or equal to 1 metric ton per hour, more preferably greater than or equal to 2 metric ton per hour and wherein washing is performed in a washing space wherein the amount of washing liquid present in the washing space is greater than or equal to 1 m 3 , preferably greater than or equal to 2 m 3 , greater than or equal to 2.5 m 3 , and wherein the complete volume of washing liquid is recirculated at least 5 times per hour, preferably at least 10 times per hour, more preferably at least 15 times per hour. 
     
     
         17 . The method of any one of the  claims 8-16 , wherein the washing system is the washing system of any one of  claims 1-7 . 
     
     
         18 . Method for the production of hydrolyzed keratinaceous material, comprising the steps of:
 (i) washing the keratinaceous material using the washing system of  claims 1-7 , or the method of any one of claims  8 - 17 :   (ii) hydrolyzing the keratinaceous material:   (iii) drying the hydrolyzed keratinaceous material, thereby obtaining dried hydrolyzed keratinaceous material.   
     
     
         19 . Method for processing keratinaceous material for the down industry, comprising the steps of:
 (i) washing keratinaceous material comprising down using the washing system of  claims 1-7 , or the method of any one of claims  8 - 17 ;   (ii) drying the washed keratinaceous material;   and wherein either before or after the washing step the down is separated from other keratinaceous material.   
     
     
         20 . Method for washing keratinaceous material, preferably feathers, hair or wool, wherein the keratinaceous material is contaminated with material denser than the keratinaceous material, the method comprising:
 washing the keratinaceous material in a washing system using a washing liquid in which the keratinaceous material floats and in which the material denser than the washing liquid sinks;   extracting the material denser than the washing liquid at the bottom of the washing system using an extracting system.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the method further comprises imparting a flow on the washing liquid in the washing system, wherein the magnitude and direction of the flow is such that the keratinaceous material is kept in suspension and moved away from the extracting system whilst the material denser than the washing liquid still sinks towards the extracting system. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the magnitude and direction of the flow is such that an object with a density of more than 1.01 g/cm3, preferably more than 1.08 g/cm3 sinks while the majority of the keratinaceous material remains suspended in the washing liquid.