Process for the production of high quality fibers from wheat proteins and products made from wheat protein fibers

Abstract

A series of new manufactured protein fibers from wheat proteins, a method and kit for production of these wheat protein fibers is provided. The method may include dissolving wheat proteins by use of at least one of an alkali, acid, alcohol, reducing agent, amino acid, chemical additive, or salt in weight ratios ranging between approximately 0.5 percent and 50 percent by weight of a single wheat protein or a combination of one or more wheat proteins. Further, the method may involve aging the dissolved wheat proteins at temperatures from approximately minus thirty degrees Celsius (−30° C.) to one hundred and fifty degrees Celsius (150° C.) for approximately one to eighty hours to obtain a spinnable solution. In addition, the method entails extruding the dissolved wheat proteins into a coagulation bath to precipitate the wheat protein fibers in which the coagulation bath includes at least one of an alkali, acid or salt.

1 . A method for production of protein fibers, comprising: 
 dissolving wheat proteins by use of at least one of an alkali, acid, alcohol, reducing agent, chemical additive, or salt in weight ratios ranging between approximately 0.5 percent and fifty (50) percent by weight of a single wheat protein or a combination of one or more wheat proteins;    aging the dissolved wheat proteins at temperatures from approximately minus thirty degrees Celsius (−30° C.) to one hundred and fifty degrees Celsius (150° C.) for approximately one to eighty hours to obtain a spinnable solution; and    extruding the dissolved wheat proteins into a coagulation bath to precipitate the wheat protein fibers, the coagulation bath including at least one of an alkali, acid or salt.    
   
   
       2 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising treating the precipitated wheat protein fibers with at least one of ultraviolet light or thermal treatment to enhance such protein fiber properties.  
   
   
       3 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising crosslinking the precipitated wheat protein fibers to enhance such protein fiber properties.  
   
   
       4 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising bleaching the precipitated wheat protein fibers to enhance such protein fiber properties.  
   
   
       5 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising dyeing the precipitated wheat protein fibers to enhance such protein fiber properties.  
   
   
       6 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the at least one of alkali, acid, alcohol, reducing agent or salt include ethanol, isopropyl alcohol, urea, mercaptoethanol, sodium hydroxide, urea, formic acid or formaldehyde solutions, each solution being one hundred percent pure or a blend with other solvents.  
   
   
       7 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the chemical additive includes at least one of a plasticizer or a stabilizer in a weight ratio of approximately 0.05 percent to fifty percent to weight of wheat protein used.  
   
   
       8 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the method is implemented to produce wheat protein fibers for products selected from the group consisting of woven fabrics, non-woven materials, composites, powders and films, the products including wheat protein fibers in one hundred percent form or as blends with other fibers or polymers in ratios ranging from approximately five percent to ninety five percent.  
   
   
       9 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the method is implemented to produce wheat protein fibers at least one of a fineness ranging from approximately eight deniers to one hundred and fifty deniers, a strength ranging from approximately 0.1 grams to five grams per denier or elongation from two percent to fifty percent.  
   
   
       10 . A textile product, comprising: 
 extracted wheat protein fibers, wherein the extracted wheat protein fibers include at least one of a fineness ranging from approximately eight deniers to one hundred and fifty deniers, a strength ranging from approximately 0.1 grams to five grams per denier or elongation from two percent to fifty percent.    
   
   
       11 . The textile product as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the textile product is at least one of yarn, woven material, non-woven material, apparel, carpet, automotive fabric, or a medical textile.  
   
   
       12 . A composite product, comprising: 
 extracted wheat protein fibers, wherein the extracted wheat protein fibers include at least one of a fineness ranging from approximately eight deniers to one hundred and fifty deniers, a strength ranging from approximately 0.1 grams to five grams per denier or elongation from two percent to fifty percent.    
   
   
       13 . An extracted wheat protein fiber with a fineness ranging from approximately eight deniers to one hundred and fifty deniers, a strength ranging from approximately 0.1 grams to five grams per denier and an elongation from two percent to fifty percent.  
   
   
       14 . A protein fiber production kit, comprising: 
 a dissolving solution, the dissolving solution including at least one of an alkali, acid, alcohol, reducing agent, chemical additive, or salt in weight ratios ranging between approximately 0.5 percent and 50 percent by weight of a single protein source or a combination of one or more protein sources, the protein source being at least one of a wheat protein, a soy protein, a peanut protein, zein, or a chicken feather protein; and    an extruding solution for dissolving the proteins source into a coagulation bath, the coagulation bath including at least one of an alkali, acid or salt,    wherein treatment of the protein source with the dissolving solution followed by a protein aging time period and treatment with the extruding solution allows protein fibers to be precipitated from the protein source, the protein fibers being suitable for use in products selected from the group consisting of woven fabrics, non-woven materials, composites, powders and films, the products including wheat protein fibers in one hundred percent form or as blends with other fibers or polymers in ratios ranging from approximately five percent to ninety five percent.    
   
   
       15 . The kit as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the kit is implemented to produce wheat protein fibers at least one of a fineness ranging from approximately eight deniers to one hundred and fifty deniers, a strength ranging from approximately 0.1 grams to five grams per denier or elongation from two percent to fifty percent.  
   
   
       16 . The kit as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the chemical additive includes at least one of a plasticizer or a stabilizer in a weight ratio of approximately 0.05 percent to fifty percent to weight of wheat protein used.  
   
   
       17 . The kit as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the at least one of alkali, acid, alcohol, reducing agent or salt include ethanol, isopropyl alcohol, urea, mercaptoethanol, sodium hydroxide, urea, formic acid or formaldehyde solutions, each solution being one hundred percent pure or a blend with other solvents.