Compositions and methods for producing fungal textile material
AssigneeArizona Board of Regents on behalf of Arizona State University
InventorBenjamin GONZALEZ
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Abstract
Described herein is a process in which filamentous fungi can be used to create textile or paper materials with tunable properties. The textiles can range from leather-like to paper-like depending on the species of fungi used and the growth conditions. The method of production utilizes the tendency of filamentous fungi to form films on still liquids, in order to generate many mycelial mats concurrently. These mats can then be layered to create textile materials, paper materials, and other material types having varying thickness, composition, and mechanical properties.
Claims44
A method for generating a textile or paper material from filamentous fungi, the method comprising:
- (a) growing a culture of filamentous fungi;
- (b) forming a plurality of mycelial mats;
- (c) harvesting the plurality of mycelial mats;
- and
- (d) combining the plurality of mycelial mats into a stack of mycelial mats.
A textile or paper material composition comprising a stack of filamentous fungi mycelial mats, made by a method comprising:
- (a) growing a culture of filamentous fungi;
- (b) forming a plurality of mycelial mats;
- (c) harvesting the plurality of mycelial mats;
- and
- (d) combining the plurality of mycelial mats into a stack of mycelial mats.
A fungal textile or paper material comprising a stack of mycelial mats formed from the species Neurospora crassa, wherein the stack of mycelial mats comprises a crosslinking agent and a plasticizer.
A fungal textile or paper material comprising a stack of mycelial mats formed from the species Rhizopus oryzae, wherein the stack of mycelial mats comprises a crosslinking agent and a plasticizer.
A growth chamber for cultivating fungi for producing mycelial mats, wherein the growth chamber comprises a stainless-steel chamber comprising a depth of about 2 inches, and wherein the growth chamber comprises about 1 inch of liquid media throughout the chamber.
A method for generating a fungal paper material from filamentous fungi, the method comprising:
- (a) growing a fungal biomass of filamentous fungi;
- (b) macerating the fungal biomass of filamentous fungi into a pulp;
- (c) straining the pulp to remove liquid;
- (d) incubating the pulp with NaOH;
- (e) neutralizing the pulp with acetic acid;
- (f) straining the pulp to remove liquid;
- (g) washing the pulp with water;
- (h) straining the pulp to remove liquid;
- (i) mixing the pulp with starch, CaCO3, and glycerol to create a mixture;
- (j) pressing the mixture into one or more sheets of fungal paper material;
- (k) drying the one or more sheets of fungal paper material;
- (l) optionally, bleaching the one or more sheets of fungal paper material;
- and
- (m) optionally, cutting the one or more sheets of fungal paper material.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.