Biodegradability of Nonwoven Fabrics with Poultry Feathers as an Alternative to Traditional Nonwoven Materials

Geotextiles are used for separation, drainage, filtration and sealing of anti-erosion protection, as well as for improving plant vegetation conditions. The research objective of this work was to verify the effect of adding poultry feathers on the acceleration of biodegradation of nonwovens in arable soil. The studies were conducted in laboratory conditions and were based on the assessment of mass loss. The experiments confirmed the positive effect of the presence of waste rich in keratin on the time required for biodegradation of the tested materials (the biodegradation period was 1–24 weeks). In addition, the effect of biodegradation of the tested materials on ecotoxicity was examined and no negative effect on microbiological activity was found (106 cfu). The studies also included determining the carbon to nitrogen ratio in the test substrate (blank test, 12–14:1; with the addition of feathers, 19–20:1). Statistical analysis showed a correlation between mechanical properties and biodegradation time. This research was an important step in the management of poultry feather waste in agricultural applications. The tested materials could be seen as an alternative that meets all ecological criteria, which seems to be a golden solution that not only allows the supply of important nutrients to the soil but also manages the waste in an environmentally safe way. These results open up possibilities of using feather waste as a component of environmentally friendly agricultural nonwovens that can be degraded in-situ in the soil.