GB2165865A - Nonwoven fabric - Google Patents

Nonwoven fabric Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2165865A
GB2165865A GB08525265A GB8525265A GB2165865A GB 2165865 A GB2165865 A GB 2165865A GB 08525265 A GB08525265 A GB 08525265A GB 8525265 A GB8525265 A GB 8525265A GB 2165865 A GB2165865 A GB 2165865A
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GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
hyphae
fibre
chitin
matt
fabric
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
GB08525265A
Other versions
GB8525265D0 (en
GB2165865B (en
Inventor
Brian Sagar
Paul Hamlyn
David Wales
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Shirley Institute
Original Assignee
Shirley Institute
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from GB848425876A external-priority patent/GB8425876D0/en
Application filed by Shirley Institute filed Critical Shirley Institute
Priority to GB08525265A priority Critical patent/GB2165865B/en
Publication of GB8525265D0 publication Critical patent/GB8525265D0/en
Publication of GB2165865A publication Critical patent/GB2165865A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of GB2165865B publication Critical patent/GB2165865B/en
Expired legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D04—BRAIDING; LACE-MAKING; KNITTING; TRIMMINGS; NON-WOVEN FABRICS
    • D04H—MAKING TEXTILE FABRICS, e.g. FROM FIBRES OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL; FABRICS MADE BY SUCH PROCESSES OR APPARATUS, e.g. FELTS, NON-WOVEN FABRICS; COTTON-WOOL; WADDING ; NON-WOVEN FABRICS FROM STAPLE FIBRES, FILAMENTS OR YARNS, BONDED WITH AT LEAST ONE WEB-LIKE MATERIAL DURING THEIR CONSOLIDATION
    • D04H1/00—Non-woven fabrics formed wholly or mainly of staple fibres or like relatively short fibres
    • D04H1/40—Non-woven fabrics formed wholly or mainly of staple fibres or like relatively short fibres from fleeces or layers composed of fibres without existing or potential cohesive properties
    • D04H1/42—Non-woven fabrics formed wholly or mainly of staple fibres or like relatively short fibres from fleeces or layers composed of fibres without existing or potential cohesive properties characterised by the use of certain kinds of fibres insofar as this use has no preponderant influence on the consolidation of the fleece
    • D04H1/4382—Stretched reticular film fibres; Composite fibres; Mixed fibres; Ultrafine fibres; Fibres for artificial leather
    • D04H1/43835—Mixed fibres, e.g. at least two chemically different fibres or fibre blends
    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D21—PAPER-MAKING; PRODUCTION OF CELLULOSE
    • D21H—PULP COMPOSITIONS; PREPARATION THEREOF NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES D21C OR D21D; IMPREGNATING OR COATING OF PAPER; TREATMENT OF FINISHED PAPER NOT COVERED BY CLASS B31 OR SUBCLASS D21G; PAPER NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • D21H13/00—Pulp or paper, comprising synthetic cellulose or non-cellulose fibres or web-forming material
    • D21H13/10—Organic non-cellulose fibres
    • D21H13/20—Organic non-cellulose fibres from macromolecular compounds obtained otherwise than by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds
    • D21H13/24—Polyesters
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61F—FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS
    • A61F13/00—Bandages or dressings; Absorbent pads
    • A61F13/00987—Apparatus or processes for manufacturing non-adhesive dressings or bandages
    • A61F13/00991—Apparatus or processes for manufacturing non-adhesive dressings or bandages for treating webs, e.g. for moisturising, coating, impregnating or applying powder
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61L—METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR STERILISING MATERIALS OR OBJECTS IN GENERAL; DISINFECTION, STERILISATION OR DEODORISATION OF AIR; CHEMICAL ASPECTS OF BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES; MATERIALS FOR BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES
    • A61L15/00—Chemical aspects of, or use of materials for, bandages, dressings or absorbent pads
    • A61L15/16—Bandages, dressings or absorbent pads for physiological fluids such as urine or blood, e.g. sanitary towels, tampons
    • A61L15/22—Bandages, dressings or absorbent pads for physiological fluids such as urine or blood, e.g. sanitary towels, tampons containing macromolecular materials
    • A61L15/28—Polysaccharides or their derivatives
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61L—METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR STERILISING MATERIALS OR OBJECTS IN GENERAL; DISINFECTION, STERILISATION OR DEODORISATION OF AIR; CHEMICAL ASPECTS OF BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES; MATERIALS FOR BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES
    • A61L15/00—Chemical aspects of, or use of materials for, bandages, dressings or absorbent pads
    • A61L15/16—Bandages, dressings or absorbent pads for physiological fluids such as urine or blood, e.g. sanitary towels, tampons
    • A61L15/40—Bandages, dressings or absorbent pads for physiological fluids such as urine or blood, e.g. sanitary towels, tampons containing ingredients of undetermined constitution or reaction products thereof, e.g. plant or animal extracts
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01D—SEPARATION
    • B01D39/00—Filtering material for liquid or gaseous fluids
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01D—SEPARATION
    • B01D39/00—Filtering material for liquid or gaseous fluids
    • B01D39/14—Other self-supporting filtering material ; Other filtering material
    • B01D39/16—Other self-supporting filtering material ; Other filtering material of organic material, e.g. synthetic fibres
    • B01D39/1607—Other self-supporting filtering material ; Other filtering material of organic material, e.g. synthetic fibres the material being fibrous
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01D—SEPARATION
    • B01D39/00—Filtering material for liquid or gaseous fluids
    • B01D39/14—Other self-supporting filtering material ; Other filtering material
    • B01D39/20—Other self-supporting filtering material ; Other filtering material of inorganic material, e.g. asbestos paper, metallic filtering material of non-woven wires
    • B01D39/2003—Glass or glassy material
    • B01D39/2017—Glass or glassy material the material being filamentary or fibrous
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01D—SEPARATION
    • B01D39/00—Filtering material for liquid or gaseous fluids
    • B01D39/14—Other self-supporting filtering material ; Other filtering material
    • B01D39/20—Other self-supporting filtering material ; Other filtering material of inorganic material, e.g. asbestos paper, metallic filtering material of non-woven wires
    • B01D39/2055—Carbonaceous material
    • B01D39/2065—Carbonaceous material the material being fibrous
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01J—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS
    • B01J20/00—Solid sorbent compositions or filter aid compositions; Sorbents for chromatography; Processes for preparing, regenerating or reactivating thereof
    • B01J20/22—Solid sorbent compositions or filter aid compositions; Sorbents for chromatography; Processes for preparing, regenerating or reactivating thereof comprising organic material
    • B01J20/24—Naturally occurring macromolecular compounds, e.g. humic acids or their derivatives
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C12—BIOCHEMISTRY; BEER; SPIRITS; WINE; VINEGAR; MICROBIOLOGY; ENZYMOLOGY; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING
    • C12N—MICROORGANISMS OR ENZYMES; COMPOSITIONS THEREOF; PROPAGATING, PRESERVING, OR MAINTAINING MICROORGANISMS; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING; CULTURE MEDIA
    • C12N1/00—Microorganisms, e.g. protozoa; Compositions thereof; Processes of propagating, maintaining or preserving microorganisms or compositions thereof; Processes of preparing or isolating a composition containing a microorganism; Culture media therefor
    • C12N1/14—Fungi; Culture media therefor
    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D04—BRAIDING; LACE-MAKING; KNITTING; TRIMMINGS; NON-WOVEN FABRICS
    • D04H—MAKING TEXTILE FABRICS, e.g. FROM FIBRES OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL; FABRICS MADE BY SUCH PROCESSES OR APPARATUS, e.g. FELTS, NON-WOVEN FABRICS; COTTON-WOOL; WADDING ; NON-WOVEN FABRICS FROM STAPLE FIBRES, FILAMENTS OR YARNS, BONDED WITH AT LEAST ONE WEB-LIKE MATERIAL DURING THEIR CONSOLIDATION
    • D04H1/00—Non-woven fabrics formed wholly or mainly of staple fibres or like relatively short fibres
    • D04H1/40—Non-woven fabrics formed wholly or mainly of staple fibres or like relatively short fibres from fleeces or layers composed of fibres without existing or potential cohesive properties
    • D04H1/42—Non-woven fabrics formed wholly or mainly of staple fibres or like relatively short fibres from fleeces or layers composed of fibres without existing or potential cohesive properties characterised by the use of certain kinds of fibres insofar as this use has no preponderant influence on the consolidation of the fleece
    • D04H1/425—Cellulose series
    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D04—BRAIDING; LACE-MAKING; KNITTING; TRIMMINGS; NON-WOVEN FABRICS
    • D04H—MAKING TEXTILE FABRICS, e.g. FROM FIBRES OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL; FABRICS MADE BY SUCH PROCESSES OR APPARATUS, e.g. FELTS, NON-WOVEN FABRICS; COTTON-WOOL; WADDING ; NON-WOVEN FABRICS FROM STAPLE FIBRES, FILAMENTS OR YARNS, BONDED WITH AT LEAST ONE WEB-LIKE MATERIAL DURING THEIR CONSOLIDATION
    • D04H13/00—Other non-woven fabrics
    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D21—PAPER-MAKING; PRODUCTION OF CELLULOSE
    • D21H—PULP COMPOSITIONS; PREPARATION THEREOF NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES D21C OR D21D; IMPREGNATING OR COATING OF PAPER; TREATMENT OF FINISHED PAPER NOT COVERED BY CLASS B31 OR SUBCLASS D21G; PAPER NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • D21H13/00—Pulp or paper, comprising synthetic cellulose or non-cellulose fibres or web-forming material
    • D21H13/10—Organic non-cellulose fibres
    • D21H13/28—Organic non-cellulose fibres from natural polymers
    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D21—PAPER-MAKING; PRODUCTION OF CELLULOSE
    • D21H—PULP COMPOSITIONS; PREPARATION THEREOF NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES D21C OR D21D; IMPREGNATING OR COATING OF PAPER; TREATMENT OF FINISHED PAPER NOT COVERED BY CLASS B31 OR SUBCLASS D21G; PAPER NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • D21H5/00—Special paper or cardboard not otherwise provided for
    • D21H5/12—Special paper or cardboard not otherwise provided for characterised by the use of special fibrous materials
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01D—SEPARATION
    • B01D2239/00—Aspects relating to filtering material for liquid or gaseous fluids
    • B01D2239/04—Additives and treatments of the filtering material
    • B01D2239/0464—Impregnants
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01D—SEPARATION
    • B01D2239/00—Aspects relating to filtering material for liquid or gaseous fluids
    • B01D2239/06—Filter cloth, e.g. knitted, woven non-woven; self-supported material
    • B01D2239/0604—Arrangement of the fibres in the filtering material
    • B01D2239/064—The fibres being mixed
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01D—SEPARATION
    • B01D2239/00—Aspects relating to filtering material for liquid or gaseous fluids
    • B01D2239/06—Filter cloth, e.g. knitted, woven non-woven; self-supported material
    • B01D2239/065—More than one layer present in the filtering material
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01D—SEPARATION
    • B01D2239/00—Aspects relating to filtering material for liquid or gaseous fluids
    • B01D2239/06—Filter cloth, e.g. knitted, woven non-woven; self-supported material
    • B01D2239/065—More than one layer present in the filtering material
    • B01D2239/0659—The layers being joined by needling
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01D—SEPARATION
    • B01D2239/00—Aspects relating to filtering material for liquid or gaseous fluids
    • B01D2239/06—Filter cloth, e.g. knitted, woven non-woven; self-supported material
    • B01D2239/065—More than one layer present in the filtering material
    • B01D2239/0681—The layers being joined by gluing
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01D—SEPARATION
    • B01D2239/00—Aspects relating to filtering material for liquid or gaseous fluids
    • B01D2239/06—Filter cloth, e.g. knitted, woven non-woven; self-supported material
    • B01D2239/069—Special geometry of layers
    • B01D2239/0695—Wound layers

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  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
  • Textile Engineering (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Veterinary Medicine (AREA)
  • Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
  • Organic Chemistry (AREA)
  • Public Health (AREA)
  • Zoology (AREA)
  • Epidemiology (AREA)
  • Botany (AREA)
  • Materials Engineering (AREA)
  • Biomedical Technology (AREA)
  • Geology (AREA)
  • Biotechnology (AREA)
  • Hematology (AREA)
  • Wood Science & Technology (AREA)
  • Genetics & Genomics (AREA)
  • Bioinformatics & Cheminformatics (AREA)
  • Mycology (AREA)
  • Virology (AREA)
  • Microbiology (AREA)
  • Tropical Medicine & Parasitology (AREA)
  • Biochemistry (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Medicinal Chemistry (AREA)
  • Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
  • Heart & Thoracic Surgery (AREA)
  • Vascular Medicine (AREA)
  • Analytical Chemistry (AREA)
  • Nonwoven Fabrics (AREA)

Abstract

Non-woven fabrics are produced from microfungal hyphae grown in a nutrient medium. Hyphae with branched structure are treated with alkali to expose chitin/chitosan, mixed with another fibre and formed into a wet-laid matt. The non-woven fabric can be laminated or stitch bonded with another material, or impregnated with resin, to form a variety of end products for example wound dressings, wet-pipes, or for use in capturing metallic ions. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Nonwoven fabric This invention concerns the production of nonwoven fabrics from microfungal hyphae.
It has long been known that microfungal hyphae have a fibrous form. These hyphae are not very dissimilar from conventional textile fibres but they have a number of interesting characteristics including their small diameter (typically less than one fifth of that of conventional textile fibres), their branched structure (non-existent in conventional textile fibres), their tubular or hollow form (giving exceptional thermal insulation properties for example) and perhaps most importantly their unique (for a given organism and growth environment) chemical polymer structure.
Microfungal hyphae can be readily produced by fermentation in suitable nutrient solutions.
According to the present invention, there is provided a method for the production of a nonwoven fabric comprising the steps of growing a microfungal hyphae having a branched structure in a nutrient solution and which are treated with alkali to expose chitin, mixing the hyphae with another fibre, and forming a wet-laid matt from the mixture.
Preferably the hyphae are subjected to alkali treatment before being mixed with another fibre, but the mixture may be subjected to alkali treatment if desired either before or after forming the matt.
The alkali treatment dissolves protein from the outer layer of the cell walls of the hyphae to expose underlying chitin and chitosan rendering the end product particularly suitable for use in wound dressings on account of the well-known and documented accelerated wound healing properties of these substances, or for use as an ion exchange medium on account of their metallic ion capture properties.
The resulting matts, depending upon the originating organism, the added fibre and the relative portions thereof can have a desired pore size. Possible applications include use as filter media, medical and sanitary textiles for surgical dressings, tampons or the like, "wet-wipes", and as the substrate in ion exchange apparatus for metal removal and/or recovery.
The invention will be further apparent from the following examples of production of fabrics in accordance with the method of the invention, and with reference to the figures of the accompanying drawing of which: Figure 1 shows a typically branched structure of hyphae of the kind used in practising the methods of the invention; and Figure 2 is a photomicrograph of the surface of a typical fabric made in accordance with the method of the invention.
The invention is practised with microfungal hyphae having a branched structure as shown by way of example in Figure 1.
In one example micro-fungal mycelia are produced from a culture of Neurospora crassa, grown in a nutrient solution containing malt extract (17g/l) and mycological peptone (3g/l) at a temperature of 300C for one to two days.
The culture is washed and treated with a molar solution of sodium hydroxide to dissolve protein from the outer layers of the cell walls and expose the underlying chitin and chitosan.
The culture is washed again and then mixed with an equal weight of other fibre in an aqueous suspension. The mixture is subjected to mechanical agitation to ensure an even blend. The mixture is strained through a filter medium to leave a matt having a thickness of lmm or thereabouts.
The other fibre may be comprised by wood pulp, paper pulp, glass, cotton linters, polypropylene, polyester, carbon or asbestos, for example, or indeed any other natural, synthetic or mineral fibre.
The relative proportions of hyphae and fibre and the types thereof are thought to determine the pore size of the final product and the sizes possible within a useful range for filtration applications appear abundant.
In another example Neurospora crassa is replaced by Mucor mucedo.
The exposed chitin renders the fabric suitable for a number of interesting applications.
Chitin is known to accelerate the process of wound healing and a wound dressing may be formed by laminating with an absorbent backing of conventional textile material.
Chitin is also known to have the property of capture of metallic ions and sheets of the fabric may be used as the substrate in an ion exchange apparatus for the purification of industrial effluents, including radio-active effluents by removal of toxic metal values therefrom or for recovery of precious and semi-precious metals from solution.
It will be understood that the branched structure of the hyphae contributes to a substantial interlocking of the fibres in the wet laid matt as can be seen from the photomicrograph of Figure 2 of a matt formed in accordance with the invention.
It will be appreciated that it is not intended to limit the invention to the above example only, many variations, such as might readily occur to one skilled in the art, being possible, without departing from the scope thereof.
All manner of different products can be obtained by selection of appropriate organisms and their conditions of growth, by chemical modification of the cell-wall structure of the derived hyphae, and by forming the fabrics into composites with other materials as, for example, by stitch-bonding, lamination or resin impregnation.
Any alkali treatment to dissolve protein may be effected after the hyphae have been mixed with the other fibre or even after the matt has been laid.
1. A method for the production of a nonwoven fabric comprising the steps of growing microfungal hyphae having a branched structure in a nutrient solution, treating the hyphae with alkali to expose
**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (24)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Nonwoven fabric This invention concerns the production of nonwoven fabrics from microfungal hyphae. It has long been known that microfungal hyphae have a fibrous form. These hyphae are not very dissimilar from conventional textile fibres but they have a number of interesting characteristics including their small diameter (typically less than one fifth of that of conventional textile fibres), their branched structure (non-existent in conventional textile fibres), their tubular or hollow form (giving exceptional thermal insulation properties for example) and perhaps most importantly their unique (for a given organism and growth environment) chemical polymer structure. Microfungal hyphae can be readily produced by fermentation in suitable nutrient solutions. According to the present invention, there is provided a method for the production of a nonwoven fabric comprising the steps of growing a microfungal hyphae having a branched structure in a nutrient solution and which are treated with alkali to expose chitin, mixing the hyphae with another fibre, and forming a wet-laid matt from the mixture. Preferably the hyphae are subjected to alkali treatment before being mixed with another fibre, but the mixture may be subjected to alkali treatment if desired either before or after forming the matt. The alkali treatment dissolves protein from the outer layer of the cell walls of the hyphae to expose underlying chitin and chitosan rendering the end product particularly suitable for use in wound dressings on account of the well-known and documented accelerated wound healing properties of these substances, or for use as an ion exchange medium on account of their metallic ion capture properties. The resulting matts, depending upon the originating organism, the added fibre and the relative portions thereof can have a desired pore size. Possible applications include use as filter media, medical and sanitary textiles for surgical dressings, tampons or the like, "wet-wipes", and as the substrate in ion exchange apparatus for metal removal and/or recovery. The invention will be further apparent from the following examples of production of fabrics in accordance with the method of the invention, and with reference to the figures of the accompanying drawing of which: Figure 1 shows a typically branched structure of hyphae of the kind used in practising the methods of the invention; and Figure 2 is a photomicrograph of the surface of a typical fabric made in accordance with the method of the invention. The invention is practised with microfungal hyphae having a branched structure as shown by way of example in Figure 1. In one example micro-fungal mycelia are produced from a culture of Neurospora crassa, grown in a nutrient solution containing malt extract (17g/l) and mycological peptone (3g/l) at a temperature of 300C for one to two days. The culture is washed and treated with a molar solution of sodium hydroxide to dissolve protein from the outer layers of the cell walls and expose the underlying chitin and chitosan. The culture is washed again and then mixed with an equal weight of other fibre in an aqueous suspension. The mixture is subjected to mechanical agitation to ensure an even blend. The mixture is strained through a filter medium to leave a matt having a thickness of lmm or thereabouts. The other fibre may be comprised by wood pulp, paper pulp, glass, cotton linters, polypropylene, polyester, carbon or asbestos, for example, or indeed any other natural, synthetic or mineral fibre. The relative proportions of hyphae and fibre and the types thereof are thought to determine the pore size of the final product and the sizes possible within a useful range for filtration applications appear abundant. In another example Neurospora crassa is replaced by Mucor mucedo. The exposed chitin renders the fabric suitable for a number of interesting applications. Chitin is known to accelerate the process of wound healing and a wound dressing may be formed by laminating with an absorbent backing of conventional textile material. Chitin is also known to have the property of capture of metallic ions and sheets of the fabric may be used as the substrate in an ion exchange apparatus for the purification of industrial effluents, including radio-active effluents by removal of toxic metal values therefrom or for recovery of precious and semi-precious metals from solution. It will be understood that the branched structure of the hyphae contributes to a substantial interlocking of the fibres in the wet laid matt as can be seen from the photomicrograph of Figure 2 of a matt formed in accordance with the invention. It will be appreciated that it is not intended to limit the invention to the above example only, many variations, such as might readily occur to one skilled in the art, being possible, without departing from the scope thereof. All manner of different products can be obtained by selection of appropriate organisms and their conditions of growth, by chemical modification of the cell-wall structure of the derived hyphae, and by forming the fabrics into composites with other materials as, for example, by stitch-bonding, lamination or resin impregnation. Any alkali treatment to dissolve protein may be effected after the hyphae have been mixed with the other fibre or even after the matt has been laid. CLAIMS
1. A method for the production of a nonwoven fabric comprising the steps of growing microfungal hyphae having a branched structure in a nutrient solution, treating the hyphae with alkali to expose chitin chitosan, mixing the hyphae with another fibre, and forming a wet-laid matt from the mixture.
2. A method according to claim 1, in which the hyphae comprise Neurospora crassa.
3. A method according to claim 1 or claim 2, in which the hyphae comprise Mucor muceda.
4. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, in which the hyphae are treated with sodium hydroxide solution.
5. A method according to claim 4, in which the sodium hydroxide solution is between 0.1 and 2 molar.
6. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, in which the hyphae are soaked in alkali solution for a time sufficient to dissolve the protein from the outer layers of the cell walls.
7. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, in which the said other fibre comprises wood pulp.
8. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, in which the said other fibre comprises paper pulp.
9. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 8, in which the said other fibre comprises cotton linters.
10. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 9, in which the said other fibre comprises glass fibre.
11. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 10, in which the said other fibre comprises manilla hemp.
12. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 11, in which the said other fibre comprises viscose.
13. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 12, in which the said other fibre comprises polypropylene.
14. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 13, in which the said other fibre comprises polyester.
15. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 14, in which the said other fibre comprises carbon.
16. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 15, in which the said other fibre comprises asbestos.
17. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 16, in which the hyphae and the said other fibre are in the proportion 40:60 to 60:40.
18. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 17, in which the non-woven fabric is formed into a composite material.
19. A method according to claim 18, in which the non-woven fabric is laminated with another fabric.
20. A method according to claim 18, in which the non-woven fabric is stitch bonded with another material.
21. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 20, in which the non-woven fabric is resin-impregnated.
22. A method for the production of a nonwoven fabric substantially as hereinbefore described.
23. A non-woven fabric produced by a method according to any one of claims 1 to 22.
24. A non-woven fabric substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
GB08525265A 1984-10-12 1985-10-14 Nonwoven fabric Expired GB2165865B (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB08525265A GB2165865B (en) 1984-10-12 1985-10-14 Nonwoven fabric

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB848425876A GB8425876D0 (en) 1984-10-12 1984-10-12 Nonwoven fabric
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GB2199315A (en) * 1986-11-26 1988-07-06 Shirley Inst Metal recovery filter
GB2182560B (en) * 1985-11-09 1990-06-20 Shirley Inst Wound dressing
EP0382259A2 (en) * 1989-02-10 1990-08-16 Ajinomoto Co., Inc. A complex of a fibrous material and fungi and a process for its preparation
EP0477979A3 (en) * 1990-09-28 1993-03-10 Sunfibre Co.,Ltd Biological filling agent and wound-healing agent
FR2721040A1 (en) * 1994-06-09 1995-12-15 Inpl Edible or biodegradable packaging or paper
EP0718399A1 (en) * 1994-12-21 1996-06-26 Daicel Chemical Industries, Ltd. Permentation broth composition
WO1997002077A2 (en) * 1995-06-30 1997-01-23 Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. Surface-modified fibrous material as a filtration medium
WO1999024555A2 (en) * 1997-11-10 1999-05-20 Dschida William J A Fungal cell wall production and utilization as a raw resource for textiles
WO1999046779A1 (en) * 1998-03-10 1999-09-16 Nukem Nuklear Gmbh Adsorption means for radionuclides
GB2338477A (en) * 1998-06-11 1999-12-22 Arcasorb Technology Ltd Adsorbent bed
US6059926A (en) * 1992-01-31 2000-05-09 Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha Method for manufacturing a paper diaphragm for a loud speaker
FR2827795A1 (en) * 2001-07-25 2003-01-31 Ahlstrom Res And Competence Ct USE OF A MATERIAL BASED ON ORGANIC AND / OR INORGANIC FIBERS AND CHITOSAN FOR THE FIXATION OF METALLIC IONS
FR2852027A1 (en) * 2003-03-04 2004-09-10 Ahlstrom Research & Services NON-WOVEN CARBON FIBER NON-WOVEN SUPPORT AND USE
WO2020186068A1 (en) * 2019-03-13 2020-09-17 Ecovative Design, LLC Mycelium biopolymers for health and beauty applications
US11001801B2 (en) 2016-03-01 2021-05-11 The Fynder Group, Inc. Filamentous fungal biomats, methods of their production and methods of their use
US11015059B2 (en) 2019-05-23 2021-05-25 Bolt Threads, Inc. Composite material, and methods for production thereof
US11118305B2 (en) 2019-06-18 2021-09-14 The Fynder Group, Inc. Fungal textile materials and leather analogs
US11266085B2 (en) 2017-11-14 2022-03-08 Ecovative Design Llc Increased homogeneity of mycological biopolymer grown into void space
US11272726B2 (en) 2019-02-27 2022-03-15 The Fynder Group, Inc. Food materials comprising filamentous fungal particles and membrane bioreactor design
US11277979B2 (en) 2013-07-31 2022-03-22 Ecovative Design Llc Mycological biopolymers grown in void space tooling
US11293005B2 (en) 2018-05-07 2022-04-05 Ecovative Design Llc Process for making mineralized mycelium scaffolding and product made thereby
US11297866B2 (en) 2017-08-30 2022-04-12 The Fynder Group, Inc. Bioreactor system for the cultivation of filamentous fungal biomass
US11343979B2 (en) 2018-05-24 2022-05-31 Ecovative Design Llc Process and apparatus for producing mycelium biomaterial
US11359074B2 (en) 2017-03-31 2022-06-14 Ecovative Design Llc Solution based post-processing methods for mycological biopolymer material and mycological product made thereby
US11359174B2 (en) 2018-10-02 2022-06-14 Ecovative Design Llc Bioreactor paradigm for the production of secondary extra-particle hyphal matrices
US11420366B2 (en) 2013-10-14 2022-08-23 Ecovative Design Llc Method of manufacturing a stiff engineered composite
WO2022226322A1 (en) 2021-04-23 2022-10-27 Bolt Threads, Inc. A composite material with enhanced resistance, and methods for production thereof
US11920126B2 (en) 2018-03-28 2024-03-05 Ecovative Design Llc Bio-manufacturing process
US11932584B2 (en) 2006-12-15 2024-03-19 Ecovative Design Llc Method of forming a mycological product

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GB2148959A (en) * 1983-11-02 1985-06-05 Shirley Inst Nonwoven fabric containing microfungal hyphae fibres

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Cited By (52)

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2182560B (en) * 1985-11-09 1990-06-20 Shirley Inst Wound dressing
GB2199315B (en) * 1986-11-26 1991-07-17 Shirley Inst Metal recovery filter
GB2199315A (en) * 1986-11-26 1988-07-06 Shirley Inst Metal recovery filter
EP0382259A2 (en) * 1989-02-10 1990-08-16 Ajinomoto Co., Inc. A complex of a fibrous material and fungi and a process for its preparation
EP0382259A3 (en) * 1989-02-10 1991-12-18 Ajinomoto Co., Inc. A complex of a fibrous material and fungi and a process for its preparation
US5074959A (en) * 1989-02-10 1991-12-24 Ajinomoto Company, Inc. Complex of fibers and fungi and a process for preparation thereof
EP0477979A3 (en) * 1990-09-28 1993-03-10 Sunfibre Co.,Ltd Biological filling agent and wound-healing agent
US6059926A (en) * 1992-01-31 2000-05-09 Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha Method for manufacturing a paper diaphragm for a loud speaker
FR2721040A1 (en) * 1994-06-09 1995-12-15 Inpl Edible or biodegradable packaging or paper
EP0718399A1 (en) * 1994-12-21 1996-06-26 Daicel Chemical Industries, Ltd. Permentation broth composition
WO1997002077A3 (en) * 1995-06-30 1997-02-20 Kimberly Clark Co Surface-modified fibrous material as a filtration medium
WO1997002077A2 (en) * 1995-06-30 1997-01-23 Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. Surface-modified fibrous material as a filtration medium
WO1999024555A2 (en) * 1997-11-10 1999-05-20 Dschida William J A Fungal cell wall production and utilization as a raw resource for textiles
WO1999024555A3 (en) * 1997-11-10 1999-07-22 William J A Dschida Fungal cell wall production and utilization as a raw resource for textiles
WO1999046779A1 (en) * 1998-03-10 1999-09-16 Nukem Nuklear Gmbh Adsorption means for radionuclides
US6402953B1 (en) 1998-03-10 2002-06-11 Rwe Nukem Gmbh Adsorption means for radionuclides
GB2338477A (en) * 1998-06-11 1999-12-22 Arcasorb Technology Ltd Adsorbent bed
WO2003009939A1 (en) * 2001-07-25 2003-02-06 Ahlstrom Research And Services Use of a material based on organic and/or inorganic fibres and chitosan for fixing metal ions
FR2827795A1 (en) * 2001-07-25 2003-01-31 Ahlstrom Res And Competence Ct USE OF A MATERIAL BASED ON ORGANIC AND / OR INORGANIC FIBERS AND CHITOSAN FOR THE FIXATION OF METALLIC IONS
US7189326B2 (en) 2001-07-25 2007-03-13 Ahlstrom Corporation Use of material based on organic and/or inorganic fibres and chitosan for fixing metal ions
FR2852027A1 (en) * 2003-03-04 2004-09-10 Ahlstrom Research & Services NON-WOVEN CARBON FIBER NON-WOVEN SUPPORT AND USE
WO2004079075A1 (en) * 2003-03-04 2004-09-16 Ahlstrom Research And Services Nonwoven support based on activated carbon fibres, and use
US11932584B2 (en) 2006-12-15 2024-03-19 Ecovative Design Llc Method of forming a mycological product
US11277979B2 (en) 2013-07-31 2022-03-22 Ecovative Design Llc Mycological biopolymers grown in void space tooling
US11420366B2 (en) 2013-10-14 2022-08-23 Ecovative Design Llc Method of manufacturing a stiff engineered composite
US11261420B2 (en) 2016-03-01 2022-03-01 The Fynder Group, Inc. Filamentous fungal biomats, methods of their production and methods of their use
US11505779B2 (en) 2016-03-01 2022-11-22 The Fynder Group, Inc. Filamentous fungal biomats, methods of their production and methods of their use
US11015168B2 (en) 2016-03-01 2021-05-25 The Fynder Group, Inc. Filamentous fungal biomats, methods of their production and methods of their use
US11001801B2 (en) 2016-03-01 2021-05-11 The Fynder Group, Inc. Filamentous fungal biomats, methods of their production and methods of their use
US11359074B2 (en) 2017-03-31 2022-06-14 Ecovative Design Llc Solution based post-processing methods for mycological biopolymer material and mycological product made thereby
US11464251B2 (en) 2017-08-30 2022-10-11 The Fynder Group, Inc. Edible foodstuffs and bio reactor design
US11297866B2 (en) 2017-08-30 2022-04-12 The Fynder Group, Inc. Bioreactor system for the cultivation of filamentous fungal biomass
US11266085B2 (en) 2017-11-14 2022-03-08 Ecovative Design Llc Increased homogeneity of mycological biopolymer grown into void space
US11920126B2 (en) 2018-03-28 2024-03-05 Ecovative Design Llc Bio-manufacturing process
US11293005B2 (en) 2018-05-07 2022-04-05 Ecovative Design Llc Process for making mineralized mycelium scaffolding and product made thereby
US11343979B2 (en) 2018-05-24 2022-05-31 Ecovative Design Llc Process and apparatus for producing mycelium biomaterial
US11359174B2 (en) 2018-10-02 2022-06-14 Ecovative Design Llc Bioreactor paradigm for the production of secondary extra-particle hyphal matrices
US11432575B2 (en) 2019-02-27 2022-09-06 The Fynder Group, Inc. Food materials comprising filamentous fungal particles and membrane bioreactor design
US11478007B2 (en) 2019-02-27 2022-10-25 The Fynder Group, Inc. Food materials comprising filamentous fungal particles and membrane bioreactor design
US11272726B2 (en) 2019-02-27 2022-03-15 The Fynder Group, Inc. Food materials comprising filamentous fungal particles and membrane bioreactor design
WO2020186068A1 (en) * 2019-03-13 2020-09-17 Ecovative Design, LLC Mycelium biopolymers for health and beauty applications
US11015059B2 (en) 2019-05-23 2021-05-25 Bolt Threads, Inc. Composite material, and methods for production thereof
US11891514B2 (en) 2019-05-23 2024-02-06 Bolt Threads, Inc. Composite material, and methods for production thereof
EP3986186A4 (en) * 2019-06-18 2023-05-17 The Fynder Group, Inc. Fungal textile materials and leather analogs
US11118305B2 (en) 2019-06-18 2021-09-14 The Fynder Group, Inc. Fungal textile materials and leather analogs
US11649586B2 (en) 2019-06-18 2023-05-16 The Fynder Group, Inc. Fungal textile materials and leather analogs
US11414815B2 (en) 2019-06-18 2022-08-16 The Fynder Group, Inc. Fungal textile materials and leather analogs
US11718954B2 (en) 2019-06-18 2023-08-08 The Fynder Group, Inc. Fungal textile materials and leather analogs
US11447913B2 (en) 2019-06-18 2022-09-20 The Fynder Group, Inc. Fungal textile materials and leather analogs
CN114901902A (en) * 2019-06-18 2022-08-12 芬德集团公司 Fungal textile materials and leather analogues
US11427957B2 (en) 2019-06-18 2022-08-30 The Fynder Group, Inc. Fungal textile materials and leather analogs
WO2022226322A1 (en) 2021-04-23 2022-10-27 Bolt Threads, Inc. A composite material with enhanced resistance, and methods for production thereof

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GB2165865B (en) 1987-06-17

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