GB2349651A

GB2349651A - Kombucha tea mushroom in paper manufacture

Info

Publication number: GB2349651A
Application number: GB9910041A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Candasamy Rajendran
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1999-05-01
Filing date: 1999-05-01
Publication date: 2000-11-08
Also published as: GB9910041D0

Abstract

Kombucha tea is a fermented beverage, long used in China. It is prepared by brewing tea with sugar in the presence of a mixed group of microorganisms. During the fermentation process a jellylike mushroom is formed on the surface of the tea and is composed of cellulose with the microorganisms embedded in it. Usually a small part of this issued in renewing the tea. Cellulose deposited takes the shape of the vessel in which tea is brewed and is used in paper manufacture by homogenising the cellulose and mixing with cellulose obtained from traditional source. Kombucha tea mushroom can be produced my growing the microorganisms in waste water containing organic matter such as from vegetable, fruits and dairy products, Further the organisms will produce cellulose in tap water, rain water and stream water when glucose, sucrose or fructose is added to the water.

Description

KOMBUCHA TEA MUSHROOM IN PAPER MANUFACTURE BACKGROUMJ Kombucha tea, is a fermente tea and is reported to have originated in China.

Earliest record goes back to Tsing Dynasty in 220 BC. However, in recent years it has become a popular health drink in Europe and in the West. During fermentation of sugar and tea a group of micro organisms, produce a jelly like matrix of polysecharides (kombucha tea mushroom) which floats on the surface of the tea. Usually this polysccharide mixture is discarded or a part of it is used to prepare fresh kombucha tea. This kombucha tea mushroom can be used in producing paper and paper products.

COMMERCIAL PAPER Cellulose from trees is the raw material for the commercial manufacture of paper. Even though trees are a renewable resource, yet to satisfy the ever increasing demand for books, writing materials, packing and other paper products, a very large number of trees have to be cut and processed. Thus using valable land that can be used for food production and other uses.

Further cellulose from trees also has lignin which has to be removed before the cellulose could be used in paper manufacture. Kombucha tea mushroom can be used in paper manufacture, thus reducing the need to grow trees for cellulose production. Using kombucha tea mushroom will be environmentally friendly as it can be grown in any organic carbon source including organic waste such as vegetable processing, fruit canning and wine industry. This use of kombucha tea mushroom will not only be economical to produce but also be useful in reducing environmental pollution.

KOMBUCHA PAPER Steps involved in making paper from kombucha tea mushroom is as follows: Step 1. Preparation of kombucha tea: In three pints of boiling water six tea bags and six ounces of sugar were left to sommer for ten minutes in a heat resistant glass dish. The tea bags are removed and left to cool to room temperature. When the tea has cooled to room temperature, a small piece of the kombucha tea mushroom was put into the tea. The dish was covered with a clean piece of cloth and left undisturbed in a cupboard for about 10 days. Basic food hygiene was observed during handling of the kombucha tea.

By the 5th day a soft jelly-like polysccharide matrix (kombucha tea mushroom) develops on the surface of kombucha tea. Over a period of 10 days it turns into a thick pancake like structure.

Step 2, Producing paper from kombucha tea mushroom: There are three ways of producing paper from kombucha tea mushroom. The f i rst method is where after ten days the kombucha tea mushroom is removed and placed on old newspaper to drain some of the kombucha tea that the matrix holds.

When most of the tea is absorbed by the newspaper, the kombucha tea mushroom is weighed, air dried and stored in a refrigerator.

To make paper. the dried kombucha tea mushroom is soaked in distilled water over night and homogenised in water. Homogenisation results in the break up of the matrix. This is then dispersed evenly by spreading it on a non stick surface. On drying the polysccharides join up to form a sheet or any other desired shape.

In the second method the kombucha tea mushroom is homogenised in water without drying and is spread on non stick surface to form paper, as described earlier.

A third method was used to produce paper of different thickness and softness.

For this a container of desired shape, that is, to get a circular shape a circular vessel and for a rectangular shape a plastic tray (cat litter tray) was used. The kombucha tea mushroom was removed at regular intervals, that is on day 5,7,9.10 and left to dry on old newspaper.

Claims

KOMBUCHA TEA MUSHROOM IN PAPER MANUFACTURE CLAIMS 1. A naturally occurring bio-poiymer made up of cellulose is used in paper manufacture. The cellulose is produced as a byproduct of kombucha tea produced by a group of microorganisms cultured in tea with sugar. The cellulose is homogenised and mixed with traditional source of cellulose obtained from trees.
2. The cellulose obtained (claim 1) when dry is used as insulating material.
3. The kombucha tea mushroom cellulose is homogenised and put into mould of different shapes to obtain replica of such shapes (toys & miniature figurines).
4. At the early stage of growth of the cellulose the cellulose film is removed and dried to from separation membrane and used in filtration of liquids and gases.
5. At early stage of growth the cellulose film is removed and placed on to embosse materials to get exact imprint.