Analysis of oxidative degradation product of Melanin from Black-bone Silky Fowl

Melanin from Black-bone Silky Fowl (BSFM) was extracted with proteolytic hydrolysis and hydrochloric acid refining. And it was observed by Transmission Electron Microscope. The melanin was oxidatively degraded with NaOH-H2O2 , then Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy and GC/MS were used for analyzing ethereal extracts of degradation products. The results showed that the melanin was free spheroidal without any impurity in the surrounding. Infrared spectroscopy of the ethereal extract of degradation products had strong absorption peaks in the range of 2950 ～2850cm-1 , 1470 ～1370cm-1 , indicating alkyl group in ethereal extract. Meanwhile, a series of carbon alkanes (C 16 ～C 32 ) with different length were found in the ethereal extracts from products of different degradation time by GC/MS, and the content of alkanes in the ethereal extracts increased with the degradation time. These showed that carbon alkanes were gradually produced in the degradation process, suggesting that the aliphatics may be the part of BSFM structure.