MUMBAI, India, Sept. 28 -- Intellectual Property India has published a patent application (202621103573 A) filed by Ravipragash Nagarajan; Bhumika Ravipragash; and Arulselvi Ramamoorthy on August 27, 2026, for In-Vitro Metabolically-Engineered Process For The Sequential Bio-Transformation Of Waste Human Hair To Non-Cellulosic Bio-Ethanol.
Inventors include Navnit Kumar Ramamoorthy; Ravipragash Nagarajan; and Kabilan Subash Chandra Bose.
The application for the patent was published on September 25, 2026, under issue no. 39/2026.
Abstract: The present invention generally relates to an in-vitro metabolic engineering process converting keratin-rich human hair into non-cellulosic bio-ethanol across three sequential stages. First step executes whole-mycelial bio-transformation of pre-chemo-hydrolyzed human hair into chitin-rich Ganoderma lucidum mushroom fruiting bodies using a biogenic CaO catalyst. Second step utilizes an in-house fungal chitinase enzyme to hydrolyze the harvested chitin into N-acetylglucosamine (NAG) monomers and beta-glucans. Third step performs fermentation of these monomers and glucans using Mucor circinelloides under micro-aerophilic conditions, supported by an active broth-recycle loop. The process yields a cumulative bio-ethanol output reaching 82.31% of the maximum theoretical stoichiometry of glucose-fed Saccharomyces fermentation. Bypassing 2G lignocellulosic biomass removes feedstock-vs-fodder resource conflicts. The integrated methodology mitigates capital and operational expenditures, allows decentralized low-cost installation for regional communities, and establishes a high-value industrial end-of-life disposal pathway for environmental keratinous waste pollutants while enhancing local energy self-sufficiency.
Disclaimer: Curated by HT Syndication.
