Process for providing a culture of microorganisms to an elongated element

1. A process for depositing at least a culture ( 5 ) of microorganisms to an elongated element ( 2 ), comprising the steps of:

a) providing at least a first feeding device ( 4 ) comprising at least a first outlet ( 7 );

b) supplying at least one elongated element ( 2 ), selected from a wire, a fiber, a thread, a yarn, a filament and combinations thereof to said at least first feeding device ( 4 );

c) feeding to said first outlet ( 7 ) at least a first culture ( 5 ) comprising at least one microorganism;

d) dispensing said first culture ( 5 ) from said at least first outlet ( 7 );

e) contacting at least part of said elongated element ( 2 ) with said first culture ( 5 ) of microorganisms, to provide at least a part of said elongated element ( 2 ) with an amount of said first culture ( 5 ) of microorganisms;

said process comprising the step of selectively varying the speed of said dispensing of said first culture ( 5 ) in function of the speed of supply of said elongated element ( 2 ), and/or as function of the absorption capacity, and/or the dimension of said at least one elongated element ( 2 ).

2. The process according to claim 1 , wherein said first culture ( 5 ) of microorganisms is in liquid form and is dispensed from said first outlet ( 7 ) to said elongated element ( 2 ) discontinuously or continuously.

3. The process according to claim 1 , wherein said elongated element ( 2 ) provided with said first culture ( 5 ) of microorganisms is collected at an elongated element take-up device ( 3 ).

4. The process according to claim 1 , wherein said first culture ( 5 ) is dispensed to said elongated element ( 2 ) according to a direction that is substantially perpendicular to the direction of supply of said elongated element ( 2 ).

5. The process according to claim 1 , wherein said elongated element ( 2 ) is fed to said outlet ( 7 ) at a distance whereby said culture ( 5 ) exiting said outlet ( 7 ) contacts both said outlet ( 7 ) and said elongated element ( 2 ) during said elongated element contacting step.

6. The process according to claim 5 , wherein said distance is in the range of 0.1 mm to 5 mm.

7. The process according to claim 1 , further comprising a step f) of incubating the elongated element obtained in said step e).

8. The process according to claim 7 , wherein the elongated element obtained in said step e) is incubated in air and/or in an incubator ( 9 ).

9. The process according to claim 1 , wherein at least a second outlet ( 17 ) is provided to dispense a second culture of microorganisms in liquid form or a culture medium.

10. The process according to claim 1 , wherein at least said first culture ( 5 ) and/or culture medium is dispensed to said elongated element ( 2 ) within said incubator ( 9 ).

11. The process according to claim 1 , wherein said culture ( 5 ) of microorganisms comprises at least one microorganism selected from bacteria, yeasts, fungi, algae and mixtures thereof.

12. The process according to claim 1 , wherein said culture ( 5 ) of microorganisms comprises at least one microorganism able to provide a microbial product and/or a microbial precipitate onto the elongated element ( 2 ).

13. The process according to claim 12 , wherein said microbial product is a biopolymer and/or an enzyme, and/or a dye, wherein said microbial product is selected from a sugar-based biopolymer, an amino acid-based biopolymer, and urease and wherein said dye is selected from indigo dye, indigoid dye, pigment dye and mixture thereof.

14. The process according to claim 12 , wherein said microbial precipitate is calcite precipitate.

15. The process according to claim 1 , wherein said culture comprises microorganisms at a concentration 1×108 CFU/ml to 1×109 CFU/ml.

16. The process according to claim 1 , wherein said elongated element ( 2 ) is a yarn ( 2 ).

17. The process according to claim 1 , wherein a wetting agent is fed to said elongated element, in an amount in the range of 0.05% to 1% by weight of the final culture weight.

18. An elongated element obtainable by the process of claim 1 , wherein at least part of said elongated element is provided with a microbial product, and/or a microbial precipitate.

19. The elongated element according to claim 18 , wherein said elongated element is dry and optionally dyed.

20. An apparatus for carrying out the process according to claim 1 comprising at least a first feeding device ( 4 ) having at least one first outlet ( 7 ) for dispensing at least a first culture ( 5 ) comprising at least one microorganism from said outlet ( 7 ), and at least one first elongated element source ( 1 ) to supply at least one elongated element ( 2 ) to said device, wherein said apparatus is configured so that said at least a first culture ( 5 ) comprising at least one microorganism contacts at least part of said elongated element ( 2 ) when said culture is dispensed from said first outlet ( 7 ).

21. The apparatus according to claim 20 , further comprising at least one incubator ( 9 ).

22. The apparatus according to claim 20 , further comprising at least a second feeding device ( 13 ) having at least one second outlet for dispensing a culture of microorganisms or a culture medium.

23. The apparatus according to claim 21 , wherein said at least one incubator ( 9 ) includes said first feeding device ( 4 ), and/or said second feeding device ( 13 ), and/or at least one elongated element take-up device ( 3 ), wherein said elongated element take-up device ( 3 ) is configured to collect said elongated element after it has been provided with said culture ( 5 ).

24. The apparatus according to claim 20 , further comprising a logic control unit configured to regulate the speed of dispensing of at least said first culture and/or the speed of supplying of said elongated element, and further comprising one or more sensors for monitoring culture at the outlet.

25. The apparatus according to claim 20 , wherein said feeding device ( 4 ) comprise a pump ( 15 ).