University System of Maryland

United States of America, As Represented by the Secretary of Agriculture

The United States of America As Represented by the Secretary of

Eleanor M Brown

Maryann M Taylor

Gregory F Payne

William N Marmer

Tianhong Chen

Edward J Diefendorf

Heather D Embree

Willian N Marmer

Luisa F Cabeza

Gels and polymers comprising a polypeptide bound to a polysaccharide are disclosed. Specific polypeptides include, but are not limited to, polypeptides that comprise glutamine or tyrosine residues. Specific polysaccharides include, but are not limited to, chitosan. Gels and polymers of the invention can be used for the in vitro and in situ formation of protein-polysaccharide conjugates. Methods of making polypeptide/polysaccharide gels and polymers are also disclosed.

Polysaccharide-based polymers and methods of making the same

A method of producing useful products from animal by-products by incubating animal by-products in a transglutaminase-containing solution to produce transglutaminase-treated animal by-products, compressing the transglutaminase-treated animal by-products to produced a compressed product, and drying the compressed product. The transglutaminase containing solution need not contain casein.

Enzymatic treatment of proteinaceous animal by-product materials to impart cohesion and strength

Chromium containing protein materials are treated by processes which include the steps of: combining the material to be treated with sufficient water to effect the solubilization of the gelable protein recovered therefrom, and an alkali additive. The mixture is thereafter held at a temperature of from about 60.degree. C. to about 85.degree. C. for a period of time of from about 0.5 hour to about 8 hours. The mixture is then filtered to remove the aqueous phase, which contains solubilized gelable protein. Subsequently, water is again added to the resultant chrome-containing proteinaceous cake and at least one enzyme is utilized to hydrolyze the remaining protein thus producing a product containing solubilized partially hydrolyzed protein and insoluble chromium. After separation, the chrome in the insoluble residue may be recycled into the pickling or tanning process, and the essentially chrome-free protein components may be used as ingredients in feeds, fertilizers, and cosmetics. The processes of the present invention are used to particular advantage to treat wastes from the leather tanning industry including blue stock, chrome shavings, chrome buffing dust, chrome cakes and chrome sludges.

Enzymatic processing of materials containing chromium and protein

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Oreland, PA, United States of America

Eleanor M Brown