Feed material for biomass generator
View Patent ↗A bacteria starter material for use in biomass generators without causing jamming of the feeder mechanism, particularly under high temperature and/or high humidity conditions, the starter material comprising one or more species of waste-decomposing bacteria, sucrose, and a soy based protein. Preferably, DI-PAC® sugar (sucrose and maltodextrin) and powdered KIKKOMAN® Soy Sauce are used as the sugar and protein ingredients. The starter material may also comprise a dried bran culture comprising Pseudomonas . The starter material ingredients are blended together and formed into a tablet or pellet having a particular shape, size, and hardness characteristics suitable for use in the feeder mechanism of a biomass generator.
1. A biomass generator feed material in tablet form, the feed material comprising the following ingredients:
at least one Bacillus species;
a hydrolyzed soy protein;
sucrose having a mesh size between 40 and 200; and
starch.
2. The feed material of claim 1 wherein the ingredients are mixed throughout the tablet.
3. The feed material of claim 1 wherein the tablet has a substantially cylindrical shape with convex ends, a length-to-diameter-ratio between about 0.9 and about 1.2, and a cup depth between about 0.018 inches and about 0.048 inches.
4. The feed material of claim 1 wherein the tablet has a hardness between about 5.5 kilopond and about 8.5 kilopond.
5. The feed material of claim 1 further comprising a dried culture of bran and non-spore forming Pseudomonas.
6. The feed material of claim 5 wherein the Bacillus bacteria is one or more of Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus licheniformis, Bacillus thuringiensis, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens , or Bacillus simplex.
7. The feed material of claim 6 wherein the Bacillus bacteria is without a carrier.
8. The feed material of claim 5 wherein the Bacillus bacteria is without a carrier.
9. The feed material of claim 1 further comprising maltodextrin.
10. The feed material of claim 9 wherein the hydrolyzed soy protein comprises powdered soy sauce.
11. The feed material of claim 9 wherein the soy protein is hydrolyzed by a species of Aspergillus.
12. The feed material of claim 9 wherein the hydrolyzed soy protein is tamari soy.
13. The feed material of claim 1 wherein the tablet comprises around 2-7% hydrolyzed soy protein and around 25-40% sucrose by weight.
14. The feed material of claim 1 further comprising a dried culture of bran and non-spore forming Pseudomonas and wherein the tablet comprises around 0.1-10% of the Pseudomonas and Bacillus by combined weight.
15. The feed material of claim 1 wherein at least 75% of the sucrose has a mesh size of around 100 and wherein the hydrolyzed soy protein, starch, and dried bran culture have a mesh size between 20 and 30.
16. The feed material of claim 14 wherein the tablet comprises around 5% powdered soy sauce as the hydrolyzed soy protein and around 33% to 35% sucrose by weight.
17. The feed material of claim 16 wherein the starch is corn starch.
18. The feed material of claim 16 further comprising around 0.5% to 1.5% maltodextrin by weight.
19. The feed material of claim 18 further comprising around 10-15% microcrystalline cellulose by weight.
20. The feed material of claim 19 wherein the tablet comprises less than 2% bran by weight.
21. The feed material of claim 1 wherein the tablet maintains structural stability and does not stick to another tablet of the same feed material when stored at temperatures between around 40 F and around 115 F for up to 30 days.
22. The feed material of claim 1 wherein the tablet maintains structural stability and does not stick to another tablet of the same feed material when stored at relative humidity levels between around 0% and around 67% for up to 30 days.
23. The feed material of claim 1 wherein at least 75% of the sucrose has a mesh size of around 100.
24. The feed material of claim 11 wherein the hydrolyzed soy protein and starch have a mesh size between 20 and 30.
25. The feed material of claim 1 wherein the hydrolyzed soy protein is tamari soy.
26. The feed material of claim 1 wherein the soy protein is hydrolyzed by a species of Aspergillus.