Method for producing milk protein fibres

Abstract

The disclosure relates to milk protein micro and super-micro fibres (MPM) and polymer nano fibres (MPN) produced according to a spinning method, in which at least one protein, which is obtained from milk and which can be thermally plasticized, is plasticized using a plasticizing agent, such as for example, water or glycerol at temperatures between room temperature and 140° C. by means of mechanical stress in a spinning system and is spun using a spinneret to obtain the MPN- and MPM fibres.

1 . A method for the production of milk protein nano fibers and/or meso fibers (MPN fibers), preferably comprising a diameter comprised between 80 nm and 500 nm, characterized in that said fibers are produced from a homogenous polymer on the base of proteins obtained from milk by addition of heat and a plasticizer and by using an electro-spinning, centrifuge spinning, force spinning, melt-blown-spinning or a nano centrifuge spinning method. 
     
     
         2 . A method according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the MPN fibers are produced from a homogenous polymer, preferably a bio-polymer of renewable raw materials, or are coated with this one. 
     
     
         3 . A method for the production of milk protein micro fibers and milk protein micro-super fibers (MPM fibers), preferably comprising a diameter of less than 1 dtex, characterized in that the MPM fibers are produced from a homogenous polymer, preferably a bio-polymer of renewable raw materials, or are coated with this one. 
     
     
         4 . A method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the production of the MPN and MPM fibers is a continuous or a discontinuous process. 
     
     
         5 . A method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the homogenous polymer that is composed of macromolecules is produced before the real spinning process of the MPN and MPM fibers by means of a continuous or discontinuous process under mechanical stress. 
     
     
         6 . A method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the plasticizer is a constituent of the macromolecules. 
     
     
         7 . A method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the plasticizing operation is carried out in a mixer, a kneading device, an extruder or an injection moulding machine. 
     
     
         8 . A method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that other additives and auxiliary agents are added to the base material to be plasticized, optionally by admixing before or during the plasticizing operation. 
     
     
         9 . A method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one protein obtained from milk is plasticized together with a plasticizer under mechanical stress and is preferably spun to fibers through a jet. 
     
     
         10 . A method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the plasticizing takes place at temperatures of up to 140° C. 
     
     
         11 . A method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the protein obtained from milk is either produced in situ by precipitation from milk or is used in form of a protein that has been separately obtained before and, if required, been prepared or is used in form of a protein fraction. 
     
     
         12 . A method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the proteins obtained from milk are obtained from bacteria. 
     
     
         13 . A method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the proteins obtained from milk are obtained by gas treatment or filtration. 
     
     
         14 . A method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the proteins obtained from milk, in particular casein, lactalbumin or soy protein are obtained from goat's milk, sheep's milk, cow's milk or soy milk. 
     
     
         15 . A method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the plasticizer is selected from the group: water, aqueous carbohydrate solution and in particular aqueous polysaccharides, oligosaccharides, proteins, alcohol, polyacohol, fats, acids, amino acid, peptides, salts, cations, enzymes or mixtures thereof as well as their oxidation. 
     
     
         16 . A method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the MPN and MPM fibers are dried and post-treated, in that they pass through a bath and are subjected to a spraying treatment, a gas treatment, an ice treatment, a drying and blowing treatment, a ionic treatment, a UV treatment, an infrared treatment, an enzymatic treatment, a needling and hydro entangling process, as well as to a renaturation by means of salts or alcohols, esters and ethers, esterification, etherification or saponification or another cross linking or coating process or calendering process. 
     
     
         17 . A method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the polymer mass or the MPM or MPN fibers are destructured, oxidized, derivatized, etherified, esterified or saponified during or after the process by means of chemical or enzymatic substances. 
     
     
         18 . A method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that amino acids are added to the polymer mass. 
     
     
         19 . A method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the polymer mass is mixed with or post-treated by protease inhibitors, preferably enzymes, surfactants, acids, serpines, phenolic molecules of plants and/or polysaccharides. 
     
     
         20 . A method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the MPN and MPM fibers are produced by copolymerization of mixtures of two or more different monomers and/or production of bi-component or multi-component fibers. 
     
     
         21 . A milk protein fiber product which contains MPN and MPM fibers which contain a thermally mechanically plasticized milk protein, in particular produced by a method according to one of the  claims 1  through  20 . 
     
     
         22 . A use of milk protein fiber products according to  claim 21  as coating and/or constituent of non woven fabrics or fleeces, loose cotton wools or plied yarns, in particular in the field of cosmetics, textiles, medical products, hygiene and cleaning products, cell culture and catalyst carriers as well as filter and membrane parts.