Keratin Processing

This chapter deals with the various ways in which keratin (extracted from different sources) can be processed to obtain different types of products. In the first section, solvents and polymers that must be employed tomake this natural biopolymer usable are discussed. Sections 2-5 are mainly oriented in the transformations of keratin in processes such as spinning, electrospinning, casting, foaming, and freezedrying. In addition, some products (fibers, nanofibers, films, coating, and sponge) and applications (filtration, adsorption, and scaffolds) corresponding to the procedures mentioned above are reported. The last section is related to the chemical treatments (e.g., crosslinking) applied to keratin to modify its properties.