(General session) Recycling

[3401-08-08] Fabrication of Biodegradable Resins Derived from Waste Protein Fibers

○Shota Akioka¹ (1. Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology)

Chairperson：小山 恵史（九州大学）

Keywords:biodegradable resin, silk fibroin, wool keratin, hot-pressing, metal adsorbent

Mass-produced natural fibers such as silk and wool are typically not recycled after use; instead, they are landfilled or incinerated. Research is being conducted to establish sustainable applications for these materials. Both fibers are primarily composed of proteins and can be processed into various forms by manipulating their molecular structures. We have developed a method for fabricating resin-like moldings (referred to as "Resin") from silk and wool through hot-pressing. In this presentation, we will introduce the characteristics of silk- and wool-derived Resin and discuss on recent research findings, as well as the challenges related to their societal implementation.