Processes for treatment of microbe suspensions

A process for de-aggregating microbe spore aggregates, the process comprising:

• mixing a polymeric additive with a first suspension comprising the microbe spore aggregates and one or more other components to form a second suspension comprising the polymeric additive, microbe spores and/or aggregates thereof, and the one or more other components, wherein the average particle size of the microbe spores and/or aggregates thereof in the second suspension is less than the average particle size of the microbe spore aggregates in the first suspension and wherein at least one of the following conditions is satisfied:
• (a) the average particle size of the microbe spore aggregates in the first suspension is at least about 50 μm, at least about 60 μm, at least about 70 μm, at least about 80 μm, at least about 90 μm, at least about 100 μm, or at least about 200 μm;
• (b) the average particle size of the microbe spores and/or aggregates thereof in the second suspension is less than about 50 μm, less than about 40 μm, less than about 30 μm, less than about 20 μm, less than about 10 μm, less than about 5 μm, or less than about 2 μm;
• (c) the one or more other components comprises one or more microbe nutrients;
• (d) the concentration of the polymeric additive in the second suspension is at least about 2 wt. %, at least about 2.5 wt. %, at least about 3 wt. %, at least about 3.5 wt. %, at least about 4 wt. %, at least about 4.25 wt. %, at least about 4.5 wt. %, at least about 5 wt. %, or at least about 6 wt. %;
• and/or
• (e) the ratio of the microbe spores in CFUs to mass of the polymeric additive in grams in the second suspension is at least about 2×105:1, at least about 2×106:1, at least about 2×107:1, at least about 2×108:1, at least about 2×109:1, or at least about 2×1010:1.