Automated process for silk fibroin extraction

A system for automated extraction of silk fibroin from silk cocoons, the system comprising:

• a rinse bowl having a porous bottom surface, the rinse bowl having a rinse bowl volume, the porous bottom surface comprising a plurality of openings adapted to support the extracted silk fibroin within the rinse bowl volume;
• a robotic arm coupled to the rinse bowl such that the robotic arm moves the rinse bowl;
• a first boiling tank having a boiling tank top opening and a first temperature regulator, the first boiling tank adapted to contain a first boiling solution adapted for degumming the silk cocoons, the first temperature regulator adapted to elevate a temperature of the first boiling solution when present in the first boiling tank to a boiling temperature, the first boiling tank adapted to receive the rinse bowl via the boiling tank top opening;
• a first rinsing tank having a rinsing tank top opening, the first rinsing tank adapted to contain a first rinsing liquid adapted for rinsing degummed silk, the first rinsing tank adapted to receive the rinse bowl via the rinsing tank top opening;
• a power supply coupled to the robotic arm and the first temperature regulator;
• a processor in electronic communication with the robotic arm and the first temperature regulator;
• and
• a memory accessible by the processor and having stored thereon a silk processing algorithm that, when executed by the processor, causes the processor to:
• a) send an increase boiling tank temperature to boiling signal to the first temperature regulator;
• b) send a move rinse bowl to boiling tank signal to the robotic arm;
• c) after a pre-determined boiling time, send a move rinse bowl to rinsing tank signal to the robotic arm;
• and
• d) after a pre-determined rinsing time, send a remove rinse bowl from rinsing tank signal to the robotic arm,
• wherein the robotic arm moves the rinse bowl into the first boiling tank in response to receiving the move rinse bowl to boiling tank signal,
• wherein first temperature regulator increases a temperature of the first boiling solution present in the first boiling tank in response to receiving the increase boiling tank temperature to boiling signal,
• wherein the robotic arm moves the rinse bowl from the first boiling tank into the first rinsing tank in response to receiving the move rinse bowl to rinsing tank signal, and
• wherein the robotic arm removes the rinse bowl from the first rinsing tank in response to receiving the remove rinse bowl from rinsing tank signal.