Chemistry: molecular biology and microbiology – Micro-organism – per se ; compositions thereof; proces of...
Patent
1996-06-24
1998-05-12
Weber, Jon P.
Chemistry: molecular biology and microbiology
Micro-organism, per se ; compositions thereof; proces of...
426 61, C12N 100, A23C 912
Patent
active
057503931
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
This application was filed under 35 U.S.C. .sctn.371 and claims the benefit of PCT Application PCT/EP94/00004 filed Jan. 3, 1994.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The solid-state culture of microorganisms, where this is possible, has advantages over classic liquid-phase cultures in respect of numerous factors, ranging from the operating conditions, which control and promote the growth of the microorganism(s) used, to the collection of the biomass produced.
In general, solid-state culture is acknowledged to have the following positive aspects: those in which the micro-organism develops in nature;
Solid-state biotransformation has been studied by numerous experts but virtually all the solutions proposed have involved composting. The equipment required for this has undergone rapid, constant development and become increasingly specialized and specific to this technology.
Composting (a solid-state thermophilic oxidative biotransformation process) differs from other solid-state oxidative biotransformation processes in that it uses polygenic substrates (mixture of organic products of varying origin) and requires a rich and varied bacterial flora in which the microorganisms, each capable of complementary functions, work together to attack all the constituents of the substrates and produce degradation of the soluble and toxic products in the presence of oxygen and moisture. The other oxidative biotransformation processes, by contrast, use specific substrates and/or well-defined strains of microorganisms that grow in specific environmental conditions.
The composting method involves the use of substrates that are fairly coarsely shredded in order to obtain biomasses with interstitial spaces (homogeneous empty spaces) that account for more than 25% of the total volume of the biomass to be bio-oxidized.
This is done in an attempt to overcome the problem, commonly encountered with agglomerated biomasses, of anaerobic fermentation occurring during the bio-oxidation stage.
If the substrates are per se extremely fragmented and/or have a tendency to agglomerate, it is common practice to mix them with materials comprising large pieces (bulking agents) to create the interstitial spaces necessary to enable the air to flow and diffuse uniformly during the bio-oxidation stage. Another solution is to use systems that enable the biomass to be turned fairly frequently so as to break up the lumps and expose the resulting fragments to the air.
In all these cases, the substrates to be biotransformed are prepared in such a way as to prevent the formation of agglomerates, since damaging anaerobic fermentation would inevitably occur within these.
The principal limitations of all the systems currently in use are: stage; agents;
The reasons for these limitations have been studied and identified as follows:
The poor and uneven aeration of the biomass is due mainly to the fact that during the bio-oxidative process the "structure" of the solid substrates loses its original characteristics. As a result the substrates tend to collapse and fall in on themselves or, in the case of rigid substrates, tend to become compacted. Consequently, areas develop where the substrate becomes compacted, reducing and/or eliminating the interstitial spaces, with the result that the air flow is reduced or blocked in these areas.
The temperature fluctuations during the bio-oxidative stage are due to the moisture initially present in the biomass evaporating during the turning--which is designed to break up the aggregated mass and aerate it at the same time--and to conductive and convective phenomena developing in the biomass.
The unsuitability of the system to the use of mycelial microorganisms is due to the fact that the mycelium is damaged when the biomass is turned and so prevented from developing to the optimal degree on the surface of the substrate to be used and converted into useful biomass and/or into a particular product.
The low number of active contacts between microorganisms/enzymes and substrate is due mainly to the limited surface area of the substrate.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5184780 (1993-02-01), Wiens
Hanley Susan
Italtraco S.r.l.
Weber Jon P.
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