Characterization of Chicken Feathers Ash as a Potential Soil-Stabilizing Material

As a byproduct of the poultry meat processing industries, huge quantities of chicken feathers are produced. The methods utilized to dispose of chicken feathers from these industries and abattoirs are expensive and not sustainable. The study aims to examine the chemical composition and cementitious properties of a chicken feather, and its fractions in ash form (as a powder and flake). The morphological, structural, and chemical properties of the prepared chicken feather ash powder and flakes are analyzed through XRF, XRD, and SEM. This experiment is carried out to compare the changes in chicken feathers when it turns to ash powder and the flake structure after the incineration process. The incinerator to convert waste chicken feathers to ash powder and flakes is designed with a carbon filter to reduce the environmental impact. Results indicate that feather ash powder contains lime content in the form of CaO, i.e., 39% which can act as a good stabilizing material in soil compared with the chicken feather ash flakes that contain a high amount of wollastonite that comprises small traces of iron, manganese, and magnesium substituting calcium. Also, the optimum temperature of 600 °C is derived to convert the chicken feathers into ash form with a high level of calcium carbonate and silica. The study concludes that the chicken feather ash powder is recommended as a soil-stabilizing material over the flake due to the higher amount of pozzolanic material in the chicken feather ash powder (CFAP) than the chicken feather ash flake (CFAF). Thus, chicken feather waste can be turned to be potential soil-stabilizing material by converting it into ash form.