Solution based post-processing methods for mycological biopolymer material and mycological product made thereby
A mycological biopolymer material is subjected to treatment in one or more solutions that work to enhance and/or retain the inherent material properties of the material. In one embodiment, the solution is an organic solution; in another embodiment, the solution is an organic solvent with a salt; in another embodiment, the solution is an organic solvent phenol and/or polyphenol; and in another embodiment, a series of such solutions is used.
1. A method comprising the steps of:
obtaining a tissue consisting essentially of fungal mycelium containing native moisture, wherein said fungal mycelium is free of any stripe, cap or spores;
treating said tissue with an organic solvent solution for a period of time sufficient to permit permeability into the tissue while desiccating the tissue to replace said native moisture with said solvent solution;
removing said tissue from said solution;
pressing said tissue to a minor thickness thereof; and
thereafter drying said tissue, thereby providing a processed mycological biopolymer having a density within a range of 15 pcf to 50 pcf.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein said step of treating comprises treating said tissue with said organic solvent solution in an amount of 5 to 50 ml of organic solvent solution to 1 gram of tissue.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein said step of treating comprises treating said tissue with said organic solvent solution for a period of time of from 5 seconds to 6 months.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein said organic solvent solution is a bath of 100% alcohol.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein said step of treating comprises submerging said tissue at least once in said solution.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein said organic solvent solution comprises salt.
7. The method of claim 6 , wherein said organic solvent solution comprises salt at a content of 200 to 300 g of salt to one liter of organic solvent.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein said organic solvent comprises at least one of a phenol and a polyphenol.
9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising treating said tissue with a solution of organic solvent comprising salt.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein said step of pressing comprises a first pressing step and a second pressing step.
11. The method of claim 1 , wherein said step of pressing comprises compressing said tissue using at least one of a manual press, a hydraulic press and rollers.
12. The method of claim 7 , wherein said salt is calcium chloride.
13. The method of claim 9 , wherein said salt is calcium chloride.
14. The method of claim 8 , wherein said organic solvent solution comprises polyphenol including tannic acid.
15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising treating said tissue with a second organic solvent solution, said second organic solvent solution comprising salt.
16. The method of claim 15 , wherein treating said tissue with the second organic solvent solution is for a period of time sufficient to impart antimicrobial properties thereto.
17. The method of claim 1 , wherein the processed mycological biopolymer is further characterized as having a modulus of elasticity within a range of 2000 to 8000 psi.
18. The method of claim 1 , wherein the processed mycological biopolymer is further characterized as having a moisture content of greater than 15% by dry mass.
19. The method of claim 1 , wherein the processed mycological biopolymer is further characterized as having a moisture content within a range of 15% to 30% by dry mass.
20. The method of claim 4 , wherein the processed mycological biopolymer is further characterized as having a porosity within a range of 0.9 micrometers to 25 micrometers.
21. The method of claim 4 , further comprising treating the tissue with a plasticizer.