METHOD FOR PRODUCING AMINO ACID AND PRODUCTION APPARATUS THEREFOR

Abstract

A method for producing amino acids includes collecting feather waste into a container, with the feather waste having a pH value between 8 to 9.5; mixing from 5 weight percent to 8 weight percent of an alkaline solution having a pH value between 10 to 12 with from 30 weight percent to 40 weight percent of the feather waste and from 52 weight percent to 65 weight percent of water at room temperature for 12 to 48 hours to produce a preproduct; electrolyzing the preproduct to produce a product mixture; adding from 3 weight percent to 5 weight percent of an acid solution having a pH value between 3 to 6 into from 95 weight percent to 97 weight percent of first mixture to produce a second product via neutralization reaction.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a method for producing amino acids and, in particular, to a method for hydrolyzing feather waste to extract the amino acids, and an apparatus is used to produce the amino acids.

2. Description of the Related Art

It makes millions of tons of feather waste due to the global market for the huge demand for poultry meat. Further, the feather waste will rot under natural conditions and causes stinking pollution. However, the burning landfill can reduce the stinking pollution caused the rotten feather waste, but such processed method will need a lot of manpower and material resources.

Furthermore, the feather waste contains a lot of protein, such as by chemical method to degradation of amino acids, which avoids the pollution generated feather waste, but also has good economic returns, after all is the best way to deal with feathers.

Thus, a need exists for a novel method for producing amino acids that mitigates and/or obviates the above disadvantages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly a method is provided, which comprises:

collecting feather waste into a container, with the feather waste having a pH value between 8 to 9.5;

mixing from 5 weight percent to 8 weight percent of an alkaline solution having a pH value of between 10 and 12 with from 30 weight percent to 40 weight percent of the feather waste and from 52 weight percent to 65 weight percent of water at room temperature for 12 to 48 hours to produce a preproduct to produce a first product having a pH value of between 3 and 6 into from 95 weight percent to 97 weight percent of the first product to produce a second product via neutralization reaction.

An advantage of the present invention provides a method for hydrolyzing feather waste to produce the amino acids.

Other objects, advantages, and new features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when considered in conjunction with the accompanied drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a method for producing amino acids according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of an apparatus used to produce the amino acids according to the present invention and illustrates feather waste to be collected into a first reaction tank.

FIG. 3 shows a partial, continued view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 2 and illustrates an alkaline solution, the feather waste and water to be mixed in the first reaction tank to produce a preproduct.

FIG. 4 shows a continued view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 3 and illustrates the preproduct to be delivered into a second reaction tank.

FIG. 5 shows a continued view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 4 and illustrates an electrolyser conducting electrolysis of the preproduct in the second reaction tank.

FIG. 6 shows a continued view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 5 and illustrates the preproduct to be electrolyzed to produce a first product.

FIG. 7 shows a continued view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 6 and illustrates an acid solution to be mixed with the first product to produce a second product via neutralization reaction.

FIG. 8 shows a continued view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 7 and illustrates the electrolyser conducting electrolysis of the second product in the second reaction tank.

FIG. 9 shows a continued view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 8 and illustrates a third product delivered from the second reaction tank to a product tank.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIGS. 1 through 9 show the method and a production apparatus according to the present invention shown in the drawings. The method for producing amino acids comprising:

collecting feather waste A into a container and the feather waste A having a pH value between 8 to 9.5, preferably between 9 and 9.5;

mixing from 5 weight percent to 8 weight percent of an alkaline solution B, which has a pH value of between 10 and 12, preferably between 10.5 and 11, with from 30 weight percent to 40 weight percent of the feather waste A and from 52 weight percent to 65 weight percent of water, preferably in an amount of 65 weight percent, at room temperature (e.g., 20 degrees Celsius to 30 degrees Celsius) for 12 to 48 hours, preferably mixed for 24 to 48 hours, to produce a preproduct C;

electrolyzing the preproduct C to produce a first product D;

adding from 3 weight percent to 5 weight percent of an acid solution E having a pH value of between 3 and 6, preferably between 4.5 and 5, into from 95 weight percent to 97 weight percent of the first product D to produce a second product F via neutralization reaction.

The second product F with smaller molecule clusters is suitable for use as fertilizer. Moreover, if desired, the second product F can be electrolyzed again to produce a third product G, which has much smaller molecule clusters to be absorbed by plants easily.

The apparatus for producing amino acids according to the present invention includes a first reaction tank 10, a first solution tank 20, a second reaction tank 30, an electrolyser 40, and a second solution tank 50.

The first reaction tank 10 is adapted for collecting and mixing feather waste A, an alkaline solution B, and water therein. The first reaction tank 10 includes a stirring unit 11 mounted thereon, and a conveyor belt 12 connected thereto for delivering feather waste A. The stirring unit 11 includes a motor 111 and a plurality of mixing blades 112 being actuateable by the motor 111 and rotatable in the first reaction tank 10.

The first solution tank 20 is one-way connected with the first reaction tank 10 and adapted to store and deliver an alkaline solution B to the first reaction tank 10. Thus, the feather waste A, the alkaline solution B, and water are mixed together in the first solution tank 20 to produce a preproduct C.

The second reaction tank 30 is one-way connected with the first reaction tank 10 and adapted to store the preproduct C.

The electrolyser 40 is electronically connected to the second reaction tank 30 and can conduct electrolysis of the preproduct C in the second reaction tank 30 to produce a first product D.

The second solution tank 50 is one-way connected with the second reaction tank 30 and adapted to store and deliver an acid solution E to the second reaction tank 30. Thus, the acid solution E and the first product D are mixed together in the second solution tank 50 to produce a second product F via neutralization reaction.

Further, the apparatus includes a product tank 60 one-way connected with the second reaction tank 30. Thus, the electrolyser 40 can conduct electrolysis of the second product F in the second reaction tank 30 to produce a third product G, which has much smaller molecule clusters to be absorbed by plants easily.

Furthermore, the apparatus includes a delivering unit 70, which includes first, second, third, and fourth delivering assemblies 70a, 70b, 70c, and 70d.

The first delivering assembly 70a is connected between the first reaction tank 10 and the first solution tank 20 and includes a first pump 71a, and two first pipes 72a. One of the two first pipes 72a is connected between the first reaction tank 10 and the first pump 71a, and the other one of the two first pipes 72a is connected between the first pump 71a and the first solution tank 20. Thus, the alkaline solution B is one-way delivered from the first solution tank 20 to the first reaction tank 10 via the first pump 71a operating.

The second delivering assembly 70b is connected between the first reaction tank 10 and the second reaction tank 30 and includes a second pump 71b and two second pipes 72b. One of the two second pipes 72b is connected between the first reaction tank 10 and the second pump 71b, and the other one of the two second pipes 72b is connected between the second pump 71b and the second reaction tank 30. Thus, the preproduct C is one-way delivered from the first reaction tank 10 to the second reaction tank 30 via the second pump 71b operating.

The third delivering assembly 70c is connected between the second solution tank 50 and the second reaction tank 30 and includes a third pump 71c and two third pipes 72c. One of the two third pipes 72c is connected between the second solution tank 50 and the third pump 71c, and the other one of the two second pipes 72c is connected between the third pump 71c and the second reaction tank 30. This, the acid solution E is one-way delivered from the second solution tank 50 to the second reaction tank 30 via the third pump 71c operating.

The fourth delivering assembly 70d is connected between the second reaction tank 30 and the product tank 60 and includes a fourth pump 71d and two fourth pipes 72d. One of the two fourth pipes 72d is connected between the second reaction tank 30 and the fourth pump 71d, and the other one of the two fourth pipes 72d is connected between the fourth pump 71d and the product tank 60. Thus, the third product G is one-way delivered from the second reaction tank 30 to the product tank 60 via the fourth pump 71d operating.

Additionally, the apparatus further includes a casing 80. The first reaction tank 10, the first solution tank 20, the second reaction tank 30, the electrolyser 40, the second solution tank 50, the product tank 60, and the delivering unit 70 are mounted in the casing 80.

The casing 80 includes two lateral portions 81, and a first control box 82 is mounted on one of the two lateral portions 81 and electronically connected with the electrolyser 40, the first pump 71a, and the second pump 71b, and a second control box 83 is mounded on the other one of the two lateral portions 81 and electronically connected with the third pump 71c and the fourth pump 71d.

Thus since the illustrative embodiment disclosed herein may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or general characteristics thereof, some of which forms have been indicated, the embodiment described herein is to be considered in all respects illustrative and not restrictive. The scope is to be indicated by the appended claims, rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are intended to be embraced therein.

Claims

1. A method for producing amino acids comprising:

collecting feather waste into a container, with the feather waste having a pH value between 8 to 9.5;

mixing from 5 weight percent to 8 weight percent of an alkaline solution having a pH value of between 10 and 12 with from 30 weight percent to 40 weight percent of the feather waste and from 52 weight percent to 65 weight percent of water at room temperature for 12 to 48 hours to produce a preproduct;

electrolyzing the preproduct to produce a first product;

adding from 3 weight percent to 5 weight percent of an acid solution having a pH value of between 3 and 6 into from 95 weight percent to 97 weight percent of the first product to produce a second product via neutralization reaction.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the feather waste has the pH value of between 9 and 9.5.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the room temperature is maintained between 20 degrees Celsius to 30 degrees Celsius.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the water is in an amount of 65 weight percent.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the alkaline solution has the pH value of between 10.5 and 11.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the alkaline solution, the feather waste, and the water are mixed for 24 to 48 hours.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the acid solution having the pH value of between 4.5 and 5.

8. An apparatus for producing amino acids comprising:

a first reaction tank;

a first solution tank one-way connected with the first reaction tank;

a second reaction tank one-way connected with the first reaction tank;

an electrolyser electronically connected to the second reaction tank;

a second solution tank one-way connected with the second reaction tank.

9. The apparatus as claimed in claim 8 further includes a delivering unit, wherein the delivering unit includes first, second, and third delivering assemblies;

wherein the first delivering assembly is connected between the first reaction tank and the first solution tank and includes a first pump and two first pipes, wherein one of the two first pipes is connected between the first reaction tank and the first pump, and wherein the other one of the two first pipes is connected between the first pump and the first solution tank;

wherein the second delivering assembly is connected between the first reaction tank and the second reaction tank and includes a second pump and two second pipes, wherein one of the two second pipes is connected between the first reaction tank and the second pump, and wherein the other one of the two second pipes is connected between the second pump and the second reaction tank;

wherein the third delivering assembly is connected between the second solution tank and the second reaction tank and includes a third pump and two third pipes, wherein one of the two third pipes is connected between the second solution tank and the third pump, and wherein the other one of the two second pipes is connected between the third pump and the second reaction tank.

10. The apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein the first reaction tank includes a stirring unit mounted thereon, wherein the stirring unit includes a motor and a plurality of mixing blades, wherein the plurality of mixing blades is actuateable by the motor and rotatable in the first reaction tank.

11. The apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein the first reaction tank includes a conveyor belt connected thereto.

12. The apparatus as claimed in claim 9 further includes a product tank one-way connected with the second reaction tank.

13. The apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein the delivering unit further includes a fourth delivering assemblies, wherein the fourth delivering assembly is connected between the second reaction tank and the product tank and includes a fourth pump and two fourth pipes, wherein one of the two fourth pipes is connected between the second reaction tank and the fourth pump, and wherein the other one of the two fourth pipes is connected between the fourth pump and the product tank.

14. The apparatus as claimed in claim 13 further includes a casing, wherein the first reaction tank, the first solution tank, the second reaction tank, the electrolyser, the second solution tank, the product tank, and the delivering unit are mounted in the casing, wherein the casing includes two lateral portions, wherein a first control box is mounted on one of the two lateral portions and electronically connected with the electrolyser, the first pump, and the second pump, and wherein a second control box is mounded on the other one of the two lateral portions and electronically connected with the third pump and the fourth pump.