RU2128700C1 - Apparatus for solid-phase fermentation - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: microbiology, in particular, devices for periodic fermentation of microorganisms on solid nutrient media used in cultivation of mycellium. SUBSTANCE: apparatus has vessel made in the form of flexible hose made of transparent heat-resistant material. Installed on one side of flexible hose is biofilter, and branch pipe with tubular members is installed on the other side. In this case, hose is laid in rigid trough and secured to biofilter and branch pipe by collars. EFFECT: simple in manufacture and operation, preserved sterility of medium along the entire cycle of mycellium cultivation and reduced labor input and power consumption. 5 cl, 4 dwg

Description

 The invention relates to microbiology, to devices for the periodic fermentation of microorganisms on solid nutrient media and can be used in the cultivation of fungal mycelium.

 A known apparatus for solid-phase fermentation, containing a container with technological nozzles, a device for unloading the finished product and vertical tubes placed in the tank with air holes radially located in their walls [A.S. N 1439120, C 12 M 1/00, 1986].

 The device is complex constructively, laborious to operate, irrational for operation in small laboratories.

 A known apparatus for solid-phase fermentation containing a container with nozzles for supplying and discharging gas, tubular elements with holes located along the length, for introducing gas into the substrate, with the possibility of their movement [A. N 1406151, C 12 M 1/00, 1986 - prototype].

 The apparatus is made in the form of a vertical vessel with a transparent door, inside the vessel there is a container with perforated holes for growing mycelium, as well as a heater, cooler and lamp for illumination. Visual observations of the process are carried out through a transparent door. The design is technologically cumbersome, complicated in design, the operation of such an installation is quite expensive.

 Currently, the cultivation of mycelium on solid nutrient media (grain) is carried out mainly in glass jars with a capacity of 3 l, since they are most convenient to use. The use of three-liter cans allows you to regulate the production of mycelium over a wide range, from several kilograms to several tons per month, while monitoring is carried out throughout the cycle of growing mycelium. However, this requires a significant number of cans that require careful handling during processing and operation [V. A. Medvedev. Oyster mushroom. Growing technology. M .: MP "Saturn", 1993, p. ten].

 The essence of the invention lies in the fact that the container for growing mycelium is made in the form of an elastic sleeve made of translucent, heat-resistant material, on one side of which a biofilter is installed, on the other hand, a nozzle with tubular elements laid in a rigid tray, and the container is mounted on the biofilter and nozzle cuffs .

 The tray is placed on the rack with the possibility of horizontal movement and fixation at an angle for loading and unloading mycelium from the tank.

 The capacity after fermentation, removal of the biofilter and pipe nozzle is rolled up, wrapped with two layers of kraft paper and sterilized.

 The tray is made in the form of a gutter in the shape of a container.

 Tubular elements are made of heat-resistant material.

 The use of a container in the form of an elastic sleeve for solid-phase fermentation allows, after installing the biofilter, to introduce into it a mixture of sterilized grain (nutrient substrate) and mycelium with sterile air supplied through a pipe installed at the other end, and after maturation of the mycelium due to the elasticity of the sleeve, the mycelium mass is loosened and by fixing the gutter at a certain angle, unload the mycelium in metered portions into the packaging container. This technical solution, as shown by the analysis, meets the criterion of "novelty."

 The manufacture of a container from translucent, flexible, heat-resistant material allows visual monitoring of the process, uniform mixing and shaking during the growth of the mycelium, the manufacture of containers of various capacities depending on the needs of production, uniform placement on racks, ease of manufacture and maintenance, as after fermentation, the sleeve is rolled up and the roll can be sterilized in a steam sterilizer of any capacity, as well as the rest of the process Equipment: pipes, tubular elements, which ensures aseptic conditions of the fermentation process. The analysis of technical solutions showed that the claimed technical solution meets the criterion of "significant differences".

 In FIG. 1 shows a general view of the apparatus; in FIG. 2 - general view of the tank; in FIG. 3 - fixing the tray with the container at an angle; in FIG. 4 - arrangement of devices.

 The apparatus contains an elastic container 1 laid in a hard tray 2. On one side of the container 1, a biofilter 3 is installed to prevent environmental pollution, and on the other, a pipe 4 with tubular elements 5 buried in the substrate 6. The container is mounted on the biofilter 3 and pipe 4 by cuffs 7. Trays with elastic containers are placed on the rack 8 with the possibility of their horizontal movement due to the rollers 9 with fixing at the necessary angle due to the roller-stop 10. (Fig. 3). The tank 1 is connected to a single air supply system (Fig. 4), and the air for supplying into the tank 1 first passes through a biofilter 11, a heater 12 and a cooler 13.

The device operates as follows. The sterilized elastic sleeve is deployed and installed on one side of the biofilter 3 by means of a rubber cuff 7, after which it is placed on a hard tray 2 fixed by restrictive rollers 10, raised at a certain angle, filled with a prepared mixture of sterile nutrient substrate and mycelial culture in a percentage ratio in accordance with the technology, after which the free end of the sleeve is fixed on the pipe 4 by means of a cuff 7, in which tubular elements are pre-installed 5. After filling the shelves of the rack, the tank 1 with nozzles 4 is connected to a single air supply system. As the mycelium germinates, it is visually observed, with an increase in temperature in containers 1 above plus 22 ^o C, air after biofilter 11 is passed through cooler 13, with a decrease in temperature below 19 ^o C, air supplied after biofilter 11 is passed through heater 12.

 After the maturation of the mycelium, the container 1 is disconnected from the air supply system, the tray 2 is moved horizontally along the rails of the rack 8 and fixed with restrictive rollers 9 at a certain angle, the nozzle 4 is removed and the mycelium is unloaded, shaking and kneading the mycelial mass.

 After releasing the container from the mycelium, remove the biofilter, straighten the sleeve, roll it up and wrap it in 2 layers of kraft paper. The biofilter, pipe, tubular elements and cuffs after dismantling are also wrapped in 2 layers of kraft paper. All elements of the apparatus thus prepared are sterilized in a steam sterilizer (autoclave). After sterilization and cooling, the apparatus is collected, installed, filled with nutrient medium and mycelium, and the culture cycle is repeated.

The advantages of the proposed technical solution is as follows:
- ease of manufacture and operation;
- the ability to maintain sterility of the medium throughout the entire cycle of cultivation of mycelium;
- reduction of labor and energy costs or cultivation;
- the possibility of manufacturing the apparatus without large material costs, which significantly reduces the cost of mycelium.

 The proposed apparatus for solid-phase fermentation is planned to be used in the laboratories of ZAO Regional Center Bionika, as well as in other enterprises producing mycelium.

Claims (5)

 1. The apparatus for solid-phase fermentation, containing a container with nozzles and tubular elements for supplying sterile air, characterized in that the container is made in the form of an elastic sleeve of translucent, heat-resistant material, on one side of which a biofilter is installed, on the other hand, a pipe with tubular elements, laid in a hard tray, and the container is mounted on the biofilter and the nozzle cuffs.  2. The apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the tray is placed on the rack with the possibility of horizontal movement and fixation at an angle for loading and unloading the mycelium from the tank.  3. The apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the container, after fermentation, removal of the biofilter and pipe with tubular elements, is rolled up, wrapped with two layers of kraft paper and sterilized.  4. The apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the tray is made in the form of a gutter in the form of a container.  5. The apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the tubular elements are made of heat-resistant material.

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