Methods of Mycological Biopolymer Production
Several types of non-agricultural lignocellulosic waste media are disclosed for the growth of mycological biopolymers. The growth medium is comprised of a substrate with a composition of appropriate Carbon, Nitrogen and mineral components including but not limited to lipids, proteins, and other inherent nutrition requisite for mycelial growth. Specific examples are ( 1 ) a lignocellulosic material, ( 2 ) a mineral based material, ( 3 ) a non-toxic, organic or inorganic, non-lignocellulosic material, ( 4 ) a synthetically sourced and produced material, ( 5 ) a whole tree (flourized), and ( 6 ) an agar media.
1 . A method of growing a mycelial mat comprising the steps of
providing a growth medium of non-agricultural lignocellulosic waste media;
adding a nutrient for fungal growth and a fungal inoculum to said growth medium;
thereafter placing said growth medium in a closed incubation chamber;
maintaining said closed incubation chamber with a predetermined environment of humidity, temperature, carbon dioxide and oxygen sufficient to prevent the full differentiation of the fungus into a mushroom without producing a stipe, cap, or spores; and
incubating the growth media in each said container for a period of time sufficient for said fungus to digest said nutritive substrate and produce a mycelium mat consisting entirely of fungal mycelium on said growth medium.
2 . A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said growth media is a lignocellulosic material in particle size.
3 . A method as set forth in claim 2 wherein said lignocellulosic material has a particle size of no more than ¼ inch.
4 . A method as set forth in claim 2 wherein said lignocellulosic material has a particle size in a range of from ¼ inch to 2 inches.
5 . A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said growth media is a mineral based material.
6 . A method as set forth in claim 5 wherein said mineral based material is at least one of vermiculite, perlite, soils and chalk.
7 . A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said growth media is a non-toxic non-cellulosic material.
8 . A method as set forth in claim 7 wherein said non-toxic non-cellulosic material is one of at least one of hydroponic media, gels, polyacrylates, plastics and agars.
9 . A method as set forth in claim 7 wherein said non-toxic non-cellulosic material is agar having an additive therein to support the growth of mycelium.
10 . A method as set forth in claim 9 wherein said fungal inoculum is spread across said agar growth media.
11 . A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said growth media is a synthetically sourced and produced material.
12 . A method as set forth in claim 11 wherein said material is a plastic.
13 . A method as set forth in claim 12 wherein said material is polyurethane.
14 . A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said nutrient, fungus and growth medium are placed in at least one growth form prior to said step of placing said growth medium in a closed incubation chamber.
15 . A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said nutrient, fungus and growth medium are placed on at least one growth support surface prior to said step of placing said growth medium in a closed incubation chamber.
16 . A method as set forth in claim 1 further comprising the step of doping said substrate with at least one of a nitrite, supplement and a drug.
17 . A method as set forth in claim 16 wherein said supplement is a food preservative.
18 . A method as set forth in claim 16 wherein said drug is allicin derived from garlic.
19 . A method as set forth in claim 1 further comprising the step of adding a compound to said growth medium to inhibit contaminants.
20 . A method as set forth in claim 19 wherein said compound is at least one of tannins to retard ascomycetes, cinnamaldehyde to inhibit bacteria, and sorbate to inhibit yeast.
21 . A mycelium mat made in accordance with claim 1 .