JP5834285B2 - Gas-producing microorganism search kit - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention is a kit for searching for microorganisms such as bacteria that generate gas such as hydrogen, and more specifically, suitable for educational kits for making schoolchildren and students interested in biotechnology. It is.

  Many bacteria that generate hydrogen from sugars and starch by hydrogen fermentation are known. This hydrogen production technology by fermentation is expected to be used in the future as a clean energy source for deoiling.

For that purpose, it is important to find bacteria having high hydrogen-producing ability, but it takes a lot of labor and time to find promising bacteria from microorganisms existing in various environments.
On the other hand, in order to promote research in the bio field, it is important for children such as school children to have an interest in and understanding of biotechnology and a desire to study. Experiments are effective for this purpose, but experiments involving bacteria require special equipment such as a clean bench, and it has been difficult to conduct experiments widely.

Conventionally, as this kind of educational kit, a culture device containing a fuel-producing microorganism in a culture medium and a recovery device are provided, and fuel gas (hydrogen) generated from the culture device is collected in the recovery device, for example, a fuel cell is operated. Such a learning kit is disclosed in Patent Document 1.
Further, Patent Literature 2 discloses a learning material in which alcohol generated by microbial fermentation from a culture medium and yeast contained in a culture vessel is sucked with a gas suction device and a fuel cell is started with the alcohol.

  However, these kits are complex in structure or have a plurality of equipment, and are basically used in a laboratory or the like, and are not suitable for outdoor use where microorganisms exist.

JP 2008-178304 A JP 2008-224264 A

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and can be carried by taking a compact and safe structure, and can collect microorganisms in the field where microorganisms are present, and the microorganism gas. It is an object of the present invention to provide a kit that is devised so that children can have a strong interest so that their developmental potential can be visually observed.

The kit for searching for hydrogen-producing microorganisms according to claim 1 of the present invention comprises a culture part having an opening at one end and containing a culture solution, and a transparent generated gas collection part for collecting gas generated from the culture part. ,
The generated gas collection unit is equipped with a detection material that slides inside the generated gas collection unit due to the pressure of the generated gas,
Having a gas flow path that enables gas transfer from the culture section to the generated gas collection section when the generated gas collection section is airtightly fitted to the opening of the culture section in a state where microorganisms are charged into the culture section,
A gas generating microorganism detection kit for detecting a gas generation amount by moving a detection material of a generated gas collecting unit by gas generated from a culture unit , wherein a microorganism collecting rod is provided on a fitting portion side of the generated gas collecting unit. The microorganism collecting rod is immersed in the culture solution of the culture unit when the generated gas collection unit is airtightly fitted to the opening of the culture unit and the microorganisms are charged. This is a kit for searching for gas generating microorganisms.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a kit for searching for a gas generating microorganism, wherein the kit for collecting microorganisms integrally provided on the side of the fitting portion of the generated gas collecting portion spreads toward the fitting portion. An umbrella-shaped check piece is formed, and when the generated gas collecting part is airtightly fitted to the opening of the culture part, the check piece opens in an umbrella shape and is not easily removed. The kit for searching for gas-producing microorganisms according to claim 1.




that's all

  In the present specification and claims, the term “culture medium” refers to a medium material for culturing microorganisms, for example, a solidified gel or a liquid that is supplied with water. Including.

According to the present invention, since it has a compact and excellent structure for sealing, even children can operate safely and easily. In addition, since it is easy to carry, it can be interesting because it can be collected and experimented on its own in the field where microorganisms exist. In addition, since the amount of gas generated can be confirmed visually, it is suitable for interest as a teaching material.
Further, according to the invention described in claim 2, microorganisms can be charged at the same time by simply fitting the generated gas storage part into the opening of the culture part in an airtight manner, which is more convenient.

FIG. 3 is a partially cutaway front view of an example of the gas generating microorganism search kit of the present invention. It is an abandonment figure of an example of the culture part of the gas generating microorganisms search kit of this invention. It is sectional drawing of an example of the generated gas collection part of the gas generating microbe search kit of this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows an example of the detection material of the gas generating microorganisms search kit of this invention. It is a front view of an example of the rod for collection of microorganisms of the gas generation microorganism search kit of the present invention.

The present invention will be described in detail below.
The gas generating microorganism search kit of the present invention comprises a culture section 2 shown in FIG. 2 as an example and a generated gas collection section 3 as an example in FIG. 3, which are fitted together as shown in FIG. Connect and use.
As shown in FIG. 2, the culture unit 2 has an opening 21 serving as a connection with the generated gas collection unit and a culture solution storage unit 22 for storing the culture solution at one end, and is sealed except for the opening. It has a structure. In the unused state in which the culture solution is accommodated, the opening 21 is sealed by means such as attaching a metal foil (such as an aluminum foil).
In this example, the flange 23 is provided on the outer side, and the fitting with the generated gas collection unit 3 is performed stably and airtightly.

As shown in FIG. 3, the generated gas collection unit includes a fitting unit 31 for connecting to the culture unit 2, a main body (cavity unit) 32 for containing gas, and a detection material 33 mounted in the main unit 32. have. The other end 34 is sealed. The fitting part 31 consists of inner and outer concentric rings, and the opening part 21 of the culture part 2 is configured to closely fit between them.
FIG. 4 shows an example of the detection material 33, which is formed of a rubber material or the like having an appropriate hardness, and is attached to the inner surface of the main body 32 of the generated gas collection unit 3 in an airtight manner. Since the generated gas collection part is usually cylindrical, the detection material 33 is ring-shaped as a whole.

On the upper and lower sides, there are stabilizers 331 and 331 for maintaining the detection material 33 at a right angle to the inner surface of the main body 32, and on the center part there is a lip 332 for sealing gas. The diameter of the stabilizer 331 is approximately equal to or slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the main body 32, and the diameter of the lip 332 is slightly larger than the inner diameter of the main body 32.
A scale 36 (see FIG. 1) is attached to the outer surface or inner surface of the main body 32 so that the amount of movement of the detection material can be easily confirmed. The generated gas collection unit 3 is formed of a transparent material so that the movement of the detection material 33 can be visually recognized from the outside.

  In a preferred embodiment, a microorganism collection rod 35 is formed on the fitting part 31 side of the generated gas collection part. In this example, the base portion 353 of the rod 5 is inserted inside the fitting portion 31 of the generated gas collection portion and fixed with an adhesive or the like. Referring to FIG. 5, the rod 35 is for stabing in soil or water to collect microorganisms, and a groove 351 is formed at the tip so that the collection is sufficiently performed. Further, as will be described later, a check piece 352 is formed at the base portion in the shape of an umbrella that spreads toward the fitting portion 31.

  In this example, a ventilation groove 354 is formed on the surface in the vicinity of the base of the microorganism collecting rod 5, and a gas flow path from the culture unit 2 to the generated gas collection unit 3 is formed. In other words, the culture groove storage part of the culture part 2 and the main body 32 of the generated gas collection part 3 are in communication with each other through the ventilation groove 353.

FIG. 1 is a partially cutaway front view showing a state in which the culture section 2 and the generated gas collection section are fitted together, that is, a use state of the kit of the present invention.
The culture solution storage unit 22 of the culture unit 2 is filled with the culture solution 24 in advance, and the opening 21 is sealed with aluminum foil or the like. On the other hand, microorganisms are collected from soil or water by the microorganism collecting rod 35 fixed integrally to the generated gas collecting unit. Then, the fitting part 31 of the generated gas collecting part is fitted into the opening 21 of the culture part 2. Since the outer diameter of the opening portion 21 and the inner diameter of the outer fitting portion 31 and the inner diameter of the opening portion 21 and the outer diameter of the inner fitting portion 31 are set to closely fit each other, Closely coupled. Moreover, since the outer fitting part 31 is fixed to the flange 23 of the culture part 2, safe connection can be easily achieved. In addition, it is better to insert packing between them. This connection can also be a screw joint.

As a result, the tip (groove 351) of the microorganism collecting rod 35 to which the microorganisms have attached reaches the culture solution 24, and the microorganism is put into the culture solution.
At that time, since the check piece 352 passes through the opening 21 of the culture unit 2, it passes through the opening 21 in a forcibly depressed state and then opens in an umbrella shape. It is configured so that it cannot be easily removed. The check piece 352 may be integrally formed with the rod 35, or may be formed separately and fixed to the rod 35. It is preferable to use the elasticity of the plastic material.
Further, as described above, the gas such as hydrogen generated in the culture unit 2 collects in the generated gas collection unit 3 through the ventilation groove (gas flow path) shown in FIG. 5, and thus the detection material 33 moves by the gas pressure. .

  In order to form the check piece 352, the rod 35 in that portion is made a hollow body, the wall surface is cut and raised to form a check piece, and the gap generated by the cut and raised is used as a gas flow path. You can also.

The generated gas collection unit 3 is provided with a scale 36 so that the amount of gas generated can be grasped numerically. This scale calculates the amount of generated gas in consideration of the amount and components of the culture solution. For example, 1 is set for normal gas generating capacity, 3 for high performance, and 5 for extremely high performance. can do. Moreover, since the culture part 2 is also normally comprised with a transparent material, it also becomes possible to observe the state which generate | occur | produces gas.

The kit of the present invention has a cylindrical shape as a whole, and is preferably formed entirely of a transparent plastic material such as ABS (acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene) resin or polycarbonate resin. By assembling parts formed by injection molding or the like Can be formed. The kit of the present invention is preferably distributed as a set with the generated gas collection unit in a state where the culture unit 2 is filled with a predetermined type and amount of culture solution.
In addition, since the contents of the culture solution can be freely changed, it is possible to search for a microorganism that metabolizes a specific substrate.

The gas generating microorganism search kit of the present invention is easy to carry, and in a preferred embodiment, it is safe because it cannot be resumed once fitted, and microorganisms collected at various places in the field by school children and students are cultured with this kit. By doing so, interest in biotechnology can be increased while enjoying the amount of generated gas.
In addition, when a microorganism with a large gas generation amount is found, information can be gathered widely by using a method such as reporting to a supplier, which can assist in searching for a high-performance microorganism.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Gas generation microbe search kit 2 ... Culture part 21 ... Opening part 22 of culture part ... Culture solution storage part 24 ... Culture solution 3 ... Generated gas collection part 31 ... Fitting part 32 ... Generated gas collection part main body 33 ... Detection material 35 ... Rod for collecting microorganisms 352 ... Check piece 354 ... Ventilation groove (gas flow path)
36 ... Scale

Claims (2)

It consists of a culture part that has an opening at one end and stores a culture solution, and a transparent generated gas collection part that collects gas generated from the culture part,
The generated gas collection unit is equipped with a detection material that slides inside the generated gas collection unit due to the pressure of the generated gas,
Having a gas flow path that allows gas to move from the culture section to the generated gas collection section when the generated gas collection section is airtightly fitted to the opening of the culture section in a state where microorganisms are charged into the culture section, A gas generating microorganism search kit that detects the amount of gas generated by the detection material of the generated gas collection unit moving by the gas generated from the culture unit ,
A microorganism collecting rod is integrally provided on the side of the fitting part of the generated gas collecting part, and an opening of the culture part
When the generated gas collecting part is fitted in an airtight manner, the microorganism collecting rod is in the culture solution of the culture part.
A kit for exploring a gas-producing microorganism, which is immersed and charged with microorganisms.
Fits into the root of the microbe collection rod provided integrally on the fitting part side of the generated gas collection part
A check piece is formed in the shape of an umbrella that spreads toward the joint, and when the generated gas collecting part is airtightly fitted into the opening of the culture part, the check piece opens in an umbrella shape and easily comes off. 2. The kit for searching for gas-producing microorganisms according to claim 1, wherein the kit is configured so as not to exist .

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