Untying four key strands

By LIAM DANN

Scientists at wool research company Keratec believe they are a step ahead of the international competition in extracting proteins from wool.

Wool is 95 per cent keratin protein, and enzymes can release up to 800g of it from every kg of wool.

Keratin is used in shampoos and beauty products to strengthen and repair damaged hair.

Most of what is used commercially is extracted from hoofs and horns, but Keratec believes it has achieved a world first in extracting the protein molecules undamaged from wool.

In doing so, it is able to separate four components, each of which can be turned into a commercial product.

Keratec Pro, the variant made from the protein which gives wool its strength, is significantly better at strengthening hair than keratin products made of protein fragments.

Keratin Glo, the binding agent that holds wool together, can repair damaged hair follicles.

IWL, a lipid with strong similarities to those found in human skin, has potential for use in skin creams and cosmetics.

PEP, the fourth product, is a byproduct of chips and fragments of keratin which are the same quality as most keratin now used in beauty products.