GB1585238A - Method of cleaning poultry feathers - Google Patents

Abstract

To improve cleaning processes for poultry feathers, the wash liquor is admixed with one or more deodorising and/or disinfecting agents. However, the agents used leave the springiness of the fibres unimpaired. It is particularly useful to add from 0.001 to 0.05% by weight of a 40% strength by weight of an aqueous solution of methanal (formalin) or from 0.01 to 0.05% by weight of 2,4,4'-trichloro-2'-hydroxydiphenyl ether.

Description

(54) A METHOD OF CLEANING POULTRY FEATHERS (71) We, KRUCHEN-BETTEN-, BETTWAREN- UND BETTFEDERN FABRIK GmbH, a body corporate organised under the Laws of the German Federal Republic, of 48 Bahnhofstrasse, 4404 Telgte, German Federal Republic, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: This invention relates to a method of cleaning poultry feathers.

Specification No 1,503,087 describes a method of cleaning loose raw feathers in a washing liquor consisting essentially of halogenated, especially chlorinated hydrocarbon-solvents, e.g. trichloroethylene and perchloroethylene, and thereafter drying and further processing the feathers. A problem which could heretofore not be solved completely by such treatment involves the problem of the disinfection and of the related neutralization of the odour of the feathers. It has been found that the strongly adhering, contaminating particles, such as excrement, dissociated blood and the like, are so intense in odour that odours sticking to the material cannot be eliminated completely even if the material is washed twice.

Moreover, cleaned and washed feathers are found to have a large number of germs and bacteria adhering thereto after a relative short period of use, which involves the danger of infection for the user.

Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a cleaning method by which feathers can be disinfected and deodorized, to such an extent that the material is hygienic and of neutral smell. The thus treated feathers should be sterile and retain their germicidal property for a long period of time, such that re-infection is prevented from occurring.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a method of cleaning poultry feathers, wherein the feathers are subjected to at least one washing step, and one or more rinsing steps, and are subsequently dried, each such step comprising contacting the feathers with a liquid medium and then substantially separating the feathers from the liquid medium; wherein the, or at least one of the washing steps is conducted by washing the feathers with a degreasing and dirt-dispersing liquid comprising a halogenated hydrocarbon ; and wherein a deodorizing and/or disinfecting composition is present in the , or at least one washing step and/or is present in the, or at least one rinsing step. The deodorizing and/or disinfecting compositions should leave the shrinkability and the crimp elasticity of the feathers substantially unaffected.

Some possible examples of suitable deodorizing and/or disinfecting compositions are described hereinafter. In principle, however, still further agents having the same chemical and cleaning characteristics are available to the expert. In many cases, a single agent only would not be used, but, under certain circumstances, different agents would be used in the same or in separate washing steps, such as, for instance, a deodorizing agent in the one washing step and a disinfecting agent in another washing step, or two compositions of this kind in combination in one washing operation. In particular, the compositions used are those which adhere to the surface of the feathers in an effective concentration after the drying step, such that not only the inherent smell or the formerly existing bacteria are eliminated, but a permanent effect is obtained, too.Particularly for the neutralization of odour, but also to provide a high disinfecting effect, the liquid medium contains as said deodorizing and/or disinfecting composition from 0.0005 to 0.0 percent by weight of one or more aldehydes of the general formula R - CH = 0, where R is (a) an alkyl radical of the formula CnH2n+, (n = 0, 1, 2, 3, 4); (b) a mono- or di-carboxylic acid radical having from 1 to 5 carbon atoms; (c) a - CH = 0 radical; or (d) a substituted or unsubstituted benzene nucleus.

In carrying out the present method, the aldehyde may be added directly to the liquid medium used in the washing or rinsing step.

In some instances it may be advisable additionally to spray the feathers with an aldehyde solution during the drying process in order to remove odours, which would be found afterwards. Also, it is possible to employ mixtures of aldehydes of this type.

The quantity added depends on the type of the aldehydes, and on the degree of contamination of the feathers. Owing to the fact that small quantities of aldehydes are employed, some preliminary tests are indispensible in some cases. It has been found that a slightly sweetish smell remains if an excessive quantity of aldehydes is used.

In particular, an aqueous solution of methanal which is commercially available under the trivial name "formalin", has proved to be an inexpensive substance which may be employed without difficulty.

Methanal as such is gaseous. On the contrary, the abovementioned formalin is liquid. The liquid medium conveniently contains from 0.001 to 0.05 percent by weight of a 40 percent by weight aqueous solution of methanal. However, tests have shown that other substances may be used and the liquid medium may e.g. contain the following substances in the amounts indicated propanal from 0.001 to 0.05 percent, i-butanal from 0.002 to 0.07 percent, glyoxal from 0.001 to 0.05 percent, glyoxylic acid from 0.002 to 0.05 percent or benzaldehyde from 0.0005 to 0.05 percent. It is obvious that other homologues of these substances may be employed in the present method. In these respects, it is surprising what small quantities, based on the total amount of the washing liquor, allow a sufficient effect to be obtained.

It is also possible to mix a surfactant such as a conventional cleaning or detergent intensifiers, for instance the "Therporan" (manufacturer: Chemische Fabrik Pfersee) mentioned in the Examples, with a quantity of meilianal.

If it is desired to enhance the bactericidal effect of the present method, it is desirable to use deodorizing and/or disinfecting, chloro-substituted phenols which are soluble in the liquid medium. In such use, the aim does not only reside in obtaining absolute sterility after the cleaning operation; rather, such sterility should be preserved even after a long time of use and after several washing steps, so as to be not removed còmpletely. Therefore, advantageously the bactericidal agent or composition provides a long-term effectiveness; that is, such composition should be resistant to washing and adhere to the feather material in adequate concentration. A conventional bactericidal compositon having the chemical designation 2,4,4'-trichloro-2'-hydroxydiphenyl ether has proved to be particularly advantageous for the solution of this object.

It is especially preferred to employ this last mentioned bactericidal composition in a rinsing step after the feathers have already been subjected to a first and a second washing operation. In the final rinsing step, the liquid medium, e.g. water, is mixed with from 0.0001 to 0.05 percent by weight, -preferably from 0.01 to 0.03 percent by weight, of the lastmentioned composition, and the feathers are flushed therein for a period of time, at a temperature of from 55 to 650C. Subsequently, the feathers may be dried.

In order to avoid shrinking of the feathers by the thermal shock of the drying step, the feathers may be dried at a temperature of less than 100"C. A steam heating jacket drier is advantageous to this end, with the drying steam introduced into the drier having a temperature of from 105 to 115"C while the temperature of the drier per se remains below 100"C.

The cleaning method described in Specification No 1,503,087 wherein the washing liquor is either non-aqueous or not purely aqueous in nature is especially suitable for cleaning and pretreating raw feathers from European countries and from China. The method of the present invention is different from the prior mode of operation in that (a) halogenated, especially chlorinated solvents are employed as degreasing and cleaning agents (detergents); (b) the disinfection process which in prior processes has been performed within the drier exclusively, is effected during the washing step with the aid of highly effective germicidal compositions; and (c) the drying step is performed at a lower temperature which does not affect the feathers.

The temperature within the drier - as measured in the most unfavourable positions - is substantially lower than the temperature of 90"C which is required in the purely aqueous cleaning methods for disinfection. Owing to the fact that the employment of deodorizing and/or disinfecting compositions in combination with washing liquor temperatures of about 60"C results in extinction and removal of the contaminating particles and germs adhering to the feathers, the disinfection by heat at a temperature of above 90"C may be dispensed with.

Examinations have shown that the number of bacteria in feathers treated in accordance with the present method is substatially lower than in feathers treated in accordance with the conventional method. Samples taken on the day of examination from one batch each which have been cleaned in accordance with the conventional and present treating methods, respectively, were examined for their content of bacteria at the Official Veterinary Examination Office of Miinster; these examinations showed that bacteria could be isolated in the case of feathers cleaned in accordance with the conventional method, whereas no bacteria capable of propagation could be found in the feathers cleaned in accordance with the present method.

By using the disinfectant before the final drying step, the feathers have the disinfecting substance adhering thereto even after the drying step, which fact has likewise been ascertained at the abovementioned Examination Office of Miinster. In the so-called inhibitor test using "Bacillus subtilis", a microbiocidal effectiveness could be ascertained for the feathers.

From the standpoint of hygiene, no objections exist toward the use of the aboveoutlined cleaning method employing chlorinated hydrocarbons, especially perchloroethylene, with the use of a highly effective disinfectant for the extinction of bacteria.

Of course, it is possible to carry out an after-treatment with steam of elevated temperature, if either complete removal of the chlorinated hyrocarbon, preferably perchloroethylene, prior to the drying step is required, or if the drying operation proceeds so slowly that the instantaneous evaporation of the perchloroethylene does not bring about thermal shock.

According to the present method, it is not only possible to clean and use feathers which could heretofore not be treated because of the danger of epidemic and a high degree of contamination; rather, the improved disinfection in combination with the long-term protection provides a substantial hygienic advance which must be considered to be surprising.

With respect to further details of the method and of apparatus suitable to carry out such method, reference is made to Specification No 1,503,087.

The following Examples are given to explain embodiments of the invention. In this connection, reference is made to the fact that the water content of the washing liquor may vary. Basic substance of all washing liquors are chlorinated hydrocarbons (solvents), such as perchloroethylene or tetrachloroethylene, as are customary in the cleaning art. Drying of the feathers is effected in an air flow. A temperature of 80"C has been found to be the optimum with respect to the adhesion of the methanal in the drying step.

Example I 30 kg of raw goose feathers are charged into a three-compartment drum-type washing machine specifically designed to meet the operative requirements, said machine having a loading capacity of 100 kg based on textile material. The washing process is performed in three washing steps or cycles. Initially, the feather. material is washed in 300 liters of perchloroethylene without any additives for five minutes, and subjected to centrifugation for two minutes.

The contaminated perchloroethylene is purified by distillation; the residues of high grease content which are sterilized in the course of the distillation by heat action, should be conveyed to a disposal plant.

Thereafter, the feathers are introduced into the second washing compartment.

Here, the feathers is washed with a mixture of 300 liters of perchloroethylene and 200 grams of a cleaning intensifier ("Therporan" OP; manufacturer: Chemische Fabrik Pfersee). Further, a mixture of 5 liters of water and 0.1 liter of formalin (40 percent by weight solution of methanal in water) is added to the washing liquor. After a washing period of 3 minutes with continuous stirring and agitation of the washing liquour and heating the latter to 50"C, the liquid is pumped off, and the feathers are subjected to centrifugation (two minutes). This is followed by the third washing step for rinsing or flushing the feathers with 600 liters of freshly distilled perchloroethylene; this taking six minutes. Subsequently, the feathers are centrifuged.The feathers are discharged and dried in a drying drum at a temperature of 80"C for 30 minutes.

Result: Smell not fully neutral; slightly sweetish.

Example 2 In a drum-type washing machine as used in Example 1, 32 kg of highly contaminated duck feathers are subjected to the same cleaning operation as according to Example 1, in three washing steps or cycles.

However, 0.01 liters of formalin are added in the second washing step.

The feathers are rinsed, centrifuged and dried in the manner as explained in Example 1.

Result: Smell of the feather material neutral, pleasant.

Example 3 25 kg of chicken feathers are washed in three washing steps or cycles, with washing steps 1 and 3 corresponding to those of Example 1.

The second washing step is performed with 300 liters of tetrachloroethylene, a mixture of 6 liters of water having dissolved therein 200 grams of cleaning intensifier and 0.02 liters of formalin. Subsequently, the feathers are centrifuged and dried in the manner as explained in Example 1.

Result: Smell neutral, pleasant.

Example 4 Material: 12 kg of duck feathers, highly contaminated. Pre-washing and washing steps as in Example 1. A mixture of 5 liters of water and 20 grams of propanal is added to the washing liquor in place of the formalin.

Result: Smell almost neutral; weakly ammoniacal.

Example 5 Same as Example 4, 20 grams of i-butanal are added in the place of propanal.

Result: same as in Example 4.

Example 6 Same as Example 4; 50 grams of glyoxal are added instead of the propanal.

Result: Smell slightly sweetish.

Example 7 Same as Example 5; 40 grams of glyoxylic acid are added in the place of propanal.

Result: Smell neutral.

Example 8 Same as Example 4; 25 grams of benzaldehyde are added in the place of propanal.

Result: Feathers smell slightly sweetish, ammoniacal.

It is evident from the Examples and from the above results that admixing of - the washing liquor with small amounts of aldehydes, especially methanal (in the form of formalin) yields a high odour neutralizing effect. In addition, however, a bactericidal effect can be observed, too.

Example 9 25 kg of chicken feathers, considerably contaminated, are washed. At first, a prewashing step (first washing cycle) with perchloroethylene is performed in the manner as in Example 1. Thereupon, the feathers are centrifuged.

Then, the degreased feathers are again washed in a second washing cycle with a mixture of 300 liters of water with 200 grams of "Therporan" OP as a cleaning intensifier, at a temperature of about 60"C and for a period of five minutes. After the termination of this washing cycle, the liquor is discharged and the feathers are subjected to centrifugation (2.5 minutes).

In a third cycle (rinsing cycle) of a duration of about 6 minutes, the feathers are rinsed. in water of 60"C. The water has added thereto 0.02 percent by weight of 2, 4, 4'-trichloro-2'-hydroxydiphenyl ether.

At the end of the washing operation, the liquor is discharged, and the feathers are preliminarily dried until the adhesion between the feathers is eliminated. Thereupon, the feathers are blown through a closed suction conduit into a steam heating jacket drier the heating jacket of which is heated by drying steam of a temperature of from 105 to 1150C. The steam pressure within the heating jacket is 1.4 bars (atmospheres).

The temperature existing interiorly of the drier is substantially less than 90"C.

Upon finishing the drying operation, the feathers, have a neutral smell and are disinfected, such that they may be used for any desired purpose.

Example 10 25 kg of duck feathers are washed. Initially, a pre-washing cycle (first washing cycle) is performed with subsequent centrifuging, as in Example 1. Thereafter, in the second washing cycle the washing liquor comprises 300 liters of water mixed with 200 grams of "Therporan" OP as a cleaning intensifying agent as well as with 5 grams of formalin having a methanal content of 40 percent by weight, and the feathers are washed for a period of 5.5 minutes at a temperature of about 60"C. Following this washing cycle, the feathers are centrifuged.

In the third cycle (rinsing cycle), the feathers are rinsed with pure perchloroethylene to which 0.025 percent by weight of 2, 4, 4'-trichloro-2'-hydroxydiphenyl ether have been added.

Accordingly, a combination of aldehydes and chlorinated phenols has been used in the last Example. It is found that both substances add to each other to provide a very high feather quality.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A method of cleaning poultry feathers, wherein the feathers are subjected to at least one washing step, and one or more rinsing steps, and are subsequently dried, each such step comprising contacting the feathers with a liquid medium and then substantially separating the feathers from the liquid medium; wherein the, or at least one of the washing steps is conducted by washing the feathers with a degreasing and dirt-dispersing liquid comprising a halogenated hydrocarbon; and wherein a deodorizing and/or disinfecting composition is present in the, or at least one washing step and/or is present in the, or at least one rinsing step.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the feathers are washed and degreased in a first washing step with an

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (18)

1. **WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **.

   Example 1.

   The second washing step is performed with 300 liters of tetrachloroethylene, a mixture of 6 liters of water having dissolved therein 200 grams of cleaning intensifier and 0.02 liters of formalin. Subsequently, the feathers are centrifuged and dried in the manner as explained in Example 1.

   Result: Smell neutral, pleasant.

   Example 4 Material: 12 kg of duck feathers, highly contaminated. Pre-washing and washing steps as in Example 1. A mixture of 5 liters of water and 20 grams of propanal is added to the washing liquor in place of the formalin.

   Result: Smell almost neutral; weakly ammoniacal.

   Example 5 Same as Example 4, 20 grams of i-butanal are added in the place of propanal.

   Result: same as in Example 4.

   Example 6 Same as Example 4; 50 grams of glyoxal are added instead of the propanal.

   Result: Smell slightly sweetish.

   Example 7 Same as Example 5; 40 grams of glyoxylic acid are added in the place of propanal.

   Result: Smell neutral.

   Example 8 Same as Example 4; 25 grams of benzaldehyde are added in the place of propanal.

   Result: Feathers smell slightly sweetish, ammoniacal.

   It is evident from the Examples and from the above results that admixing of - the washing liquor with small amounts of aldehydes, especially methanal (in the form of formalin) yields a high odour neutralizing effect. In addition, however, a bactericidal effect can be observed, too.

   Example 9

   25 kg of chicken feathers, considerably contaminated, are washed. At first, a prewashing step (first washing cycle) with perchloroethylene is performed in the manner as in Example 1. Thereupon, the feathers are centrifuged.

   Then, the degreased feathers are again washed in a second washing cycle with a mixture of 300 liters of water with 200 grams of "Therporan" OP as a cleaning intensifier, at a temperature of about 60"C and for a period of five minutes. After the termination of this washing cycle, the liquor is discharged and the feathers are subjected to centrifugation (2.5 minutes).

   In a third cycle (rinsing cycle) of a duration of about 6 minutes, the feathers are rinsed. in water of 60"C. The water has added thereto 0.02 percent by weight of 2, 4, 4'-trichloro-2'-hydroxydiphenyl ether.

   At the end of the washing operation, the liquor is discharged, and the feathers are preliminarily dried until the adhesion between the feathers is eliminated. Thereupon, the feathers are blown through a closed suction conduit into a steam heating jacket drier the heating jacket of which is heated by drying steam of a temperature of from 105 to 1150C. The steam pressure within the heating jacket is 1.4 bars (atmospheres).

   The temperature existing interiorly of the drier is substantially less than 90"C.

   Upon finishing the drying operation, the feathers, have a neutral smell and are disinfected, such that they may be used for any desired purpose.

   Example 10

   25 kg of duck feathers are washed. Initially, a pre-washing cycle (first washing cycle) is performed with subsequent centrifuging, as in Example 1. Thereafter, in the second washing cycle the washing liquor comprises 300 liters of water mixed with 200 grams of "Therporan" OP as a cleaning intensifying agent as well as with 5 grams of formalin having a methanal content of 40 percent by weight, and the feathers are washed for a period of 5.5 minutes at a temperature of about 60"C. Following this washing cycle, the feathers are centrifuged.

   In the third cycle (rinsing cycle), the feathers are rinsed with pure perchloroethylene to which 0.025 percent by weight of 2, 4, 4'-trichloro-2'-hydroxydiphenyl ether have been added.

   Accordingly, a combination of aldehydes and chlorinated phenols has been used in the last Example. It is found that both substances add to each other to provide a very high feather quality.

   WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A method of cleaning poultry feathers, wherein the feathers are subjected to at least one washing step, and one or more rinsing steps, and are subsequently dried, each such step comprising contacting the feathers with a liquid medium and then substantially separating the feathers from the liquid medium; wherein the, or at least one of the washing steps is conducted by washing the feathers with a degreasing and dirt-dispersing liquid comprising a halogenated hydrocarbon; and wherein a deodorizing and/or disinfecting composition is present in the, or at least one washing step and/or is present in the, or at least one rinsing step.
2. 2. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the feathers are washed and degreased in a first washing step with an

   anhydrous, chlorinated hydrocarbon containing cleaning agent and are then washed in a second washing cycle with water containing a surfactant at a washing temperature of from 50 to 80"C, and wherein the feathers are thereafter rinsed at a temperature of from 55 to 650C in a rinsing liquid the feathers being preliminarily dried until the adhesion between them is eliminated, and then blown into a drying drum by an air stream, to be dried in said drying drum.
3. 3. A method as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the deodorizing and/or disinfecting composition is chosen so as to adhere in an effective concentration to the surface of the feathers after the drying step.
4. 4. A method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the liquid medium contains as said deodorizing and/or disinfecting composition from 0.0005 to 0.05 percent by weight of one or more aldehydes having the general formula R - CH = 0, where R is (a) an alkyl radical of the formula CnH2n + 1 (n = 0, 1, 2, 3, 4); (b) a mono- or di-carboxylic acid radical having from 1 to 5 carbon atoms; (c) a - CH = 0 radical; or (d) a substituted or unsubstituted benzene nucleus.
5. 5. A cleaning method as claimed in claim 4, wherein the liquid medium contains from 0.001 to 0.05 percent by weight of a 40 percent by weight aqueous solution of methanal.
6. 6. A method as claimed in claim 4, wherein the liquid medium contains from 0.001 to 0.05 percent by weight of propanal.
7. 7. A method as claimed in claim 4, wherein the liquid medium contains from 0.002 to 0.05 percent by weight of i-butanal.
8. 8. A method as claimed in claim 4, wherein the liquid medium contains from 0.001 to 0.05 percent by weight of glyoxal.
9. 9. A method as claimed in claim 4, wherein the liquid medium contains from 0.002 to 0.05 percent by weight of glyoxylic acid.
10. 10. A method as claimed in claim 4, wherein the liquid medium contains from 0.0005 to 0.05 percent by weight of benzdehyde.
11. 11. A method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the liquid medium contains from 0.0001 to 0.05 percent by weight of one or more deodorizing and/or disinfecting chloro-substituted phenols which is or are soluble in the liquid medium.
12. 12. A method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the liquid medium contains 2, 4, 4'-trichloro-2 -hydroxydiphenyl ether in a concentration of from 0.01 to 0.05 percent by weight.
13. 13. A method as claimed in claim 12, wherein the 2,4,4'-trichloro-2'hydroxydiphenyl ether is present in liquid medium used for a rinsing step.
14. 14. A method as claimed in claim 12 or 13, wherein the rinsing liquid is water.
15. 15. A method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 14 wherein the chlorinated hydrocarbon is perchloroethylene.
16. 16. A method as claimed in claim 13, wherein the final drying is performed in a steam heating jacket drier at a temperature of from 105 to 115"C of the drying steam blown into the heating jacket, with the temperature existing in the drying chamber as such being maintained below 100"C.
17. 17. A method of cleaning poultry feathers substantially as hereinbefore described in any one of the foregoing Examples.
18. 18. Poultry feathers cleaned by the method claimed in any preceding claim.