WO2021000039A1

WO2021000039A1 - Improved method and products using organic waste

Info

Publication number: WO2021000039A1
Application number: PCT/CA2020/000084
Authority: WO
Inventors: Vasily G. PICCONE
Original assignee: Piccone, Louis A.
Priority date: 2019-07-03
Filing date: 2020-06-29
Publication date: 2021-01-07
Also published as: EP3993638A1; AU2020299059A1; CN114126416A

Abstract

The present invention is directed to an improved method of feeding Black Soldier Fly larvae, comprising the steps of: a. treating organic waste to minimize the rate of decomposition to form treated organic waste; b. feeding the treated organic waste to Black Soldier Fly larvae wherein the amount of organic waste used is sufficient to feed the Black Soldier Fly larvae for a period of more than two days.

Description

This Application claims priority back to Canadian Patent Application 3,048,348, filed July 3, 2019, in the names of Louis A. Piccone and Vasily G.

Piccone for“METHOD AND PRODUCTS USING ORGANIC WASTE”.

IMPROVED METHOD AND PRODUCTS USING ORGANIC WASTE

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present application is directed to recycling methods and products extending the time in which organic waste, such as food waste, can be used, as food for insects, animals and fish.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Various types of organic waste materials, such as food garbage, are currently disposed of in a variety of ways including removal to a landfill, incineration, and treatment for use as a raw material for use as an ingredient in biofuels. When disposed of in landfills, organic waste materials decompose creating unpleasant smell, the proliferation of bacteria, and the greenhouse gas methane. Smell and bacteria require landfill employees to take health precautions like using respirators and wearing specialized clothing and accessories. Methane gas produced by decomposition of organic waste has a more potent greenhouse effect than carbon dioxide. The land needed to dispose of organic waste, estimated to comprise between 30% and 40% of garbage disposed of in landfills, is expensive and often some distance from the geographic area where the waste is generated. Incineration produces smoke pollutants and the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide.

The use of organic waste for biofuels such as bio-diesel or gas products is well-known but is expensive and inefficient at present. Such processes are described for example in U.S. Patent 10, 174,266, titled“Method of synthetic fuel gas production”; U.S. Patent 10,138,436, titled“System and method for converting food waste into fuel”; U.S. Patent 9,834,728, titled“Production of fuel”; U.S. Patent 9,506,084, titled“Production of hydrogen using an anaerobic biological process”; U.S. Patent 8,486,168, titled“Gasification”; U.S. Patent 8,153,850, titled“Integrated biofuel production system”; and, U.S. Patent 6,871,604, titled “Conversion of waste into highly efficient fuel”.

In the last several years other methods of disposing of organic waste material using insects have begun to appear in the press and other popular media. For example, there have been reports showing the utilization of insects to process waste materials, including organic waste materials, especially animal manures (See, U.S. Patents: 8,322,305; 7,951,296; 6,780,637; 6,579,713; and, 6,391,620), into other usable products. Apparently, these attempts have worked on small scales, but have not yet been adapted to industrial large scale and/or commercial uses. For example, the level of productivity has not been great enough to support the process, typically due to operating and labor costs. Most often, these are batch processes that have included loading a culture vessel with a large quantity of larval feed (manure or other wastes), adding an appropriate number of insect eggs or first-stage larvae, allowing time for the larvae to consume the feed, followed by harvest of mature larvae or pupae. Such systems provide less than optimum nutrition for the larvae because, during the days or weeks that the larvae are in the culture, the feed is also undergoing microbial decomposition and spoilage, thus reducing the conversion efficiency of the larvae. If this problem is avoided by daily feeding, the labor requirement can severely limit the scope of an insect growing operation. Possible solutions to these issues have been discussed in the past, and at least several U.S. Patents are directed to this technology including, U.S. Patents 10,159,229; 10,010,060; 9,642,344; 9,629,339; 9,510,572; and, 8,733,284.

Organic waste, including unused food discarded by consumers, restaurants, supermarkets, farms, and, breweries represent a significant source of material, in sheer tonnage quantity, which can be recycled for use, as resources for other than human consumption. Processing waste organic material has been described in U.S. Patents including: 10,196,321 ; 10,015,940; 9,650,650; 8,632,024; 8,445,259; and 7,517,445.

There remains a continuing need for new and improved methods of recycling organic waste material to prevent or reduce the consequences of current disposal technologies and to supply new and/or improved, recycled materials. Furthermore, there is a continuing need for treatment of a wide range of waste materials including sewage, garbage, construction, and, industrial waste and the like to minimize landfill and atmospheric pollution.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a method of extending the time during which organic waste can be used before decomposition comprising the steps of:

a. reducing the size of the organic waste to a particle size of less than 6 cm;

b. treating the organic waste to prevent the growth of substantially all microbial life for a period of more than 72 hours.

The present invention is also directed to a method as described above wherein the process is selected from one or more of the groups consisting of i) dewatering; ii) sterilization, iii) pasteurization, iv) irradiation; and, iii) the addition of antimicrobial agents.

The present invention also includes a method of feeding insect larvae, in particular Black soldier fly larvae, comprising the steps of:

a. sterilizing or pasteurizing organic waste to minimize the rate of decomposition to form treated organic waste; b. feeding the treated organic waste to Black Soldier Fly larvae wherein the amount of organic waste used is sufficient to feed the Black Soldier Fly larvae for a period of more than two days.

DETAILED DESRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

As used herein the word“organic waste” refers to waste products that are organic, or substantially organic in character. Any biological material would be considered to be“organic”, within the scope of this definition. Waste refers to material that is discarded by the original user of the material. For example, this term can refer to animal excrement, brewers’ grain, oil and pharmaceutical byproducts that are currently discarded, consumer organic waste, food waste, etc.

Municipal organic waste is waste collected by local waste management resources, mostly municipal government trash collection services. Municipal organic waste contains materials which originated from living organisms. There are many types of organic wastes and they can be found in municipal solid waste, industrial solid waste, agricultural waste, and wastewaters. Organic wastes are often disposed of with other wastes in landfills or incinerators, but since they are biodegradable, some organic wastes are suitable for composting and land application. The term“organic food waste” refers to organic waste that is discarded food or food products. Food refers to anything that humans can eat. Every type of food is encompassed within this definition, including fruits, vegetables, meats, dairy, breads, etc. The term waste also includes material that cannot be used for its intended purpose, such as food and food products that cannot be sold, by way of non-limiting example, such as fruits and vegetables that can no longer be used as well as fruits and vegetables that cannot be harvested and/or sold.

The word“decomposition” means the destruction of the organic waste material by bacteria, heat or fungi, such that the waste can no longer effectively be used as a feed for insects, animals and/or fish, in an economically feasible manner.

As used herein the word“putrefication” is the act or process of

putrefying; the anaerobic decomposition of organic matter by bacteria

and fungi that results in obnoxiously odorous products; rotting or decay. For purposes of the present invention the terms“putrefication” and“decomposition” are considered similar. Decomposition is the degradation of organic waste so that it can no longer reasonably be used as a feedstuff for any reason, including, but not limited to smell, microbial life, insect infestation, cost, fungus, taste, pollution, etc.

For purposes of the present invention the term“sterilize” means to make organic waste material substantially free from bacteria or other living

microorganisms, and useful for an extended period of time as a feedstuff. In the context of this definition the term“substantially free” means that all significant amounts of bacteria or other living organisms are killed such that the objects of the present invention can be realized. Sterilization refers to any process that eliminates, removes, kills, or deactivates all forms of life (in particular referring to microorganisms such

as fungi, bacteria, viruses, spores, unicellular eukaryotic organisms such

as Plasmodium, etc.) and other biological agents like prions present in a specific surface, object or fluid, for example food or biological culture media.

The term“Pasteurize” refers to heat treating organic waste to delay decomposition or putrification and achieve the purposes of the present invention.

The term“heat treat” means the use of a temperature greater than the ambient temperature of organic waste to be heat treated, so as to reduce the amount of microbial life contaminating the organic waste and so extend the period of time that the organic waste may be used as food for insect larvae.

a. reducing the size of the organic waste to a particle size of less than 6 cm;

b. treating the organic waste to prevent the growth of substantially all microbial life for a period of more than 72 hours. The present invention is also directed to a method as described above wherein the process is selected from one or more of the groups consisting of i) dewatering; ii) sterilization, iii) pasteurization, iv) irradiation; and, iii) the addition of antimicrobial agents.

a. heat treating (usually sterilizing or pasteurizing) organic waste to minimize the rate of decomposition to form treated organic waste; b. feeding the treated organic waste to Black Soldier Fly larvae wherein the amount of organic waste used is sufficient to feed the Black Soldier Fly larvae for a period of more than two days.

In fact, any method of inhibiting/killing the antimicrobial life which causes decomposition can be used according to the present invention, albeit different results may be obtained depending on the method, and, cost of same. The skilled artisan will appreciate that the individual technologies for treating organic matter may be well known and can be readily adapted for the new use of that technology herein.

The skilled artisan will understand that organic waste comes in many forms and may be solid or liquid, for example. Liquids include fryer oil, grease, and, fats, from fast food restaurants. Solids include fruits and kitchen waste. By reducing solid materials in size and/or mixing with liquid waste and/or other ingredients, like water, it is typically possible to obtain a pumpable slurry that can be moved around a processing facility with ease.

Often the first step in achieving the purposes of the present invention, is processing the organic waste to ensure that the waste can be moved easily and efficiently. For example, reducing organic waste to the consistency of a pumpable slurry, is often an early step in the process according to the method of the present invention.

Separation processes make use of some physical or chemical difference between the separated fractions; examples are size, shape, color, density, solubility, electrical charge and volatility. Separations can be vital to all areas of recycling organic waste. Separations may be used to remove specific components in order to increase the added value of the organic waste, which may be the extracted component, the residue or both.

Purposes of separation include cleaning, sorting and grading operations, extraction and purification of fractions, recovery of valuable components, or removal of undesirable components such as microorganisms, agricultural residues or radionuclides. Operations range from separation of large food units, such as fruits and vegetables measuring many centimetres, down to separation of molecules or ions measured in nanometres. Organic waste can be separated according to separation techniques well known in the art. For example, those techniques used in food separation can also be used for organic waste, especially for example, the publication“Separation in Food Technology”, James G. Brennan, Alistair S. Grandison, Michael J. Lewis, Food Processing Handbook, 2 Volume Set, 2nd Edition, James G. Brennan

(Editor), Alistair S. Grandison (Editor), ISBN: 978-3-527-32468-2 December 201 1 826 Pages Wiley- VCH, describing the generic field of separation while discussing many specific methods for use in separation of different organic matters.

Separation technology is well known and understood by the skilled artisan and it is generally possible to design a separation process as necessary to achieve the purposes of the present invention.

Many company’s specialize in separation processes involving organic waste, from for example, packaging material. One such company is TiM located in Dahuan Industrial Zone, Torch Development Zone, Zhongshan City, Guangdong Province, China, having a website at http.V/shredding- machine.com/index.php/application/organic-and-food-waste-disposal/. TiM produces for example, a bin-lifter which loads a 120L or 240L bin of food waste to a manual sorting table and a moving belt from which an operator can remove foreign objects such as metal or plastic bags. The waste can be moved to an industrial shredder integrated with a dewatering squeezer in one machine. The industrial shredder at the top of the combo machine can cut the food waste down to a size of anywhere from about 36 mm to about 12 mm, then the shredded food waste will drop to the hopper of the dewatering squeezer. A squeezing shaft will push the food waste against a stainless-steel screen and back-pressure cone, with the cone not releasing until the pressure reaches a predetermined minimum so that solid food waste cannot pass through the screen until a predetermined pressure is reached squeezing water out of the material. The shredded and dewatered food waste falls off to the hopper of an auger conveyor, whose screw will convey the waste to collection container.

Once separated from any packaging material, organic waste can be more fully dewatered using any known process, including the non-limiting examples of freeze drying, centrifugation, sun-drying and air drying. Alternately, water may be added to the food waste to make a pumpable slurry capable of being easily moved to any location at a recycling site.

Unless it is frozen or preserved in some manner, organic food waste“spoils” or“goes off’ very quickly, due to the presence of microorganisms, such as, mold spores and bacteria. These microorganisms cause proteins and fats to break down, releasing toxins into meat, or destroying the tissue of fruits and vegetables, for example. They also multiply, eventually reaching levels that can cause noxious smells, and, illness. Treating the organic waste can eliminate such micro-organisms and extend the useful life of organic waste.

When organic waste is treated according to the present invention, microbial life is inhibited and the time during which the waste can be used as feed for insects, animals or fish can be extended. For example, one purpose of the present invention is to produce organic waste that can go for more than 3 days without substantial decomposition. According to other purposes of the present invention organic waste can be processed which lasts for 5, 10, 14, 21 , 28, 30, 35, 42, 60, 90, 120, and 180 days without substantial decomposition. The skilled artisan will appreciate that the number of days for which the organic waste can be preserved includes all single integers between 2 and 180, as though set forth herein in full.

One of the advantages of the present invention is that Black Soldier Fly larvae can be fed for a substantial portion, if not, the complete span of there larval life, without being fed every day. Using the present invention sufficient food may be placed in association with new larvae such that they don’t need to be feed again for a period sufficient to save substantially on the automation and/or labor expense typical for the larvae’s 14 day lifecycle. So using the method according to the present invention, sufficient food for a day and a half, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 1 1, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 and more days of larvae growth may be associated with the lavae to avoid the necessity of feeding them every day. Lowering the water content, or dewatering, the organic waste according to the present invention can be performed to any level necessary to extend the time period that the waste may be used for other purposes. De-watering can reduce the water content to 20%, 14%, 10 %, 9%, 7%, 5%, 3%, 2%, 1% or even lower, for example.

Freeze-drying is the process by which the solvent (usually water) and/or suspension medium is crystallized at low temperature and removed by sublimation. Sublimation is the direct transition of water from solid state to gaseous state without melting. It is important to freeze foods rapidly in order to avoid the formation of large ice crystals, which deteriorate the final product quality.

Freeze-drying is a method of removing water by sublimation of ice crystals from frozen material. Suitable parameters of process application allow us to obtain best quality products compared to products dried with traditional methods. Very good physical and chemical properties of organic material make this method a viable option from a scientific perspective for achieving the purposes of the present invention. However, the present high cost of the freeze-drying may limit the applicability of this technology to the present invention. Equipment innovation and pretreatment of raw material can reduce the time and energy needed for this process. Centrifugation is the process of spinning material, typically using a centrifuge, to separate components. A centrifuge is a device which employs a high angular speed to separate components of different densities. This becomes relevant in the majority of industrial jobs where solids, liquids and gases are merged into a single mixture and the separation of these different phases is necessary. A decanter centrifuge (also known as solid bowl centrifuge) separates continuously solid materials from liquids in the slurry and therefore plays an important role in the wastewater treatment, chemical, oil and food processing industries.

Separated organic waste can be placed into a centrifuge such as for example a BEP Model 805TX Stainless Steel Food Processing Centrifuge, to remove additional water.

Air drying can also be employed to reduce the water content of the organic waste at issue to remove additional water. Organic waste material to be dried is placed into a drying chamber, where air is continually circulated, slowly and gently evaporating moisture until a maximum level of water content is reached. This process is as old as civilization and a skilled artisan can easily design a process necessary to lower the water content to a desired level.

Sun drying the organic waste according to the present invention can also be used to reduce the water content. Sun drying will ideally be conducted outside under conditions of high temperature and low humidity conditions which exist in the desert.

Drip drying whereby the organic waste is placed on a grate, screen or sieve to allow water to drain from the material may also be used alone or in combination with other water reduction processes according to the present invention.

The organic waste may also be otherwise processed to extend the useful lifetime of the material for use as a foodstuff for insects, animals and aquatic life. Such additional process including irradiating the organic waste to sterilize the material. Adding anti-microbial agents to reduce or prevent the growth of bacteria, fungus or other microbes can also be added to the organic waste to extend the time to putrefaction.

Food irradiation is the process of exposing food and food packaging to ionizing radiation. Sterilization to minimize the rate at which organic waste decomposes or putrifies, can be achieved using electromagnetic radiation, such as electron beams, X-rays, gamma rays, or irradiation with or by subatomic particles. Electromagnetic or particulate radiation can be energetic enough to ionize atoms or molecules (ionizing radiation), or less energetic (non-ionizing radiation).

Ionizing radiation, such as from gamma rays, x-rays, or electron beams, is energy that can be transmitted without direct contact to the source of the energy (radiation) capable of freeing electrons from their atomic bonds (ionization) in the targeted food. The radiation can be emitted by a radioactive substance or generated electrically. This treatment is used to improve organic waste by extending useful life as a food for insects (preservation), reducing the risk of foodbome illness, delaying or eliminating sprouting or ripening, and as a means of controlling insects and invasive pests. Food irradiation primarily extends the shelf-life of irradiated organic waste by effectively destroying organisms responsible for spoilage and foodbome illness and inhibiting sprouting.

Irradiation is the deliberate process of exposing an item to certain types of radiation energy to bring about desirable changes. Ionizing radiation is radiant energy that has the ability to break chemical bonds. There are at least three types of ionizing radiation that can be used in organic waste irradiation: electron beams (machine generated), X-rays - (machine generated), and gamma rays (occur naturally from radioactive decay of Cesium 137 or Cobalt 60). Cobalt-60 is most commonly used for food irradiation, though electron beam is finding increasing application. Currently, there are a number of nonfood related products being irradiated (cosmetics, wine corks, hospital supplies, medical products, packaging materials) mostly to achieve nonthermal sterilization. The radiation dose refers to the amount of gamma rays absorbed by the product and is measured in Grays (Gy). 1 Gy = 1 Joule of absorbed energy / kg of product. Most treatment levels are on the order of 1 to 10 kGy (1 kGy = 1000 Gy).

Because of the seriousness of the food safety issue and the lack of adequate control measures to ensure 100% bacteria free food, irradiation is seen as an additional tool that can be used for improving food safety. In particular, E. coli, salmonella, and a number of other pathogenic bacteria are sensitive to irradiation. Approved doses for meat and poultry can reduce salmonella and E. coli

populations from 99.9% to 99.999% (i.e., such that the presence of salmonella is considered safe). Hundreds of studies found no health-related issues from consuming irradiated food at levels less than 10 kGy. Some studies indicate that in irradiated pork the available thiamin may be reduced up to 50%. It is also important to note that in canned beef only 21% of the thiamin is retained compared to 23% retained for gamma irradiated beef, and 44% retained in electron irradiated beef. Other vitamin losses vary depending on the particular vitamin. A study comparing vitamin levels in irradiated and non-irradiated cooked poultry found comparable vitamin levels except a modest decrease in Vitamin E (35%) was noted. Vitamin losses can also be reduced by irradiating frozen products in vacuum-packed containers. Other studies suggest that vitamin losses in irradiated products can be reduced to 10% or less. Ionizing radiation can also be used to produce sterile, shelf-stable products. Irradiation has been demonstrated to produce no harmful effects at levels up to and above 60kGy. At these high levels, there have been some significant vitamin losses, but the product is commercially sterile and has a shelf-life comparable to canned foods. Vitamin, or other nutrient loss by using irradiation pursuant to the present invention is not believed to be an insurmountable problem for purposes of the present invention.

Irradiation can be used to sterilize (eliminate all microorganisms) food products at levels above 10 kGy. In the range of 1-10 kGy it can be used to pasteurize food (eliminate a significant number of microorganisms including those of public health significance). In some products it can be used as an insect disinfestation treatment (less than 1 kGy). It can be used as a sprout inhibition technique in potatoes and onions (less than 0.5 kGy). It can delay ripening of certain fruits (less than 0.3 kGy) and eliminate trichinosis in pork (less than 1.0 kGy).

Rayfresh Foods Inc. (www.rayfreshfoods.com) is a worldwide marketer of machinery utilizing The Rainbow Process. This patent pending process offers a unique, safe way to irradiate organic waste on a continuous basis inside the processor's plant. The result of such technology is the ability to obtain a five-log reduction in various organic waste products without affecting taste or texture.

U.S. Patents discussing using radiation to preserve biological material include U.S. 6,946,098; 5,901,564; and, 5,400,382. The skilled artisan is capable of setting up and operating an irradiation system to achieve the purposes of the present invention.

By irradiating organic waste, the period of time that the organic waste can be preserved is extended dramatically. Depending upon whether, and how, the irradiated food waste is contained, the period of use as a food stuff for insect larvae can be increased for periods lasting in the years. Irradiation is an acceptable method to prevent decomposition or putrification of organic waste for the relative brief periods, such as the approximately 14 day period for Black Soldier Fly larvae to mature, required to achieve the purposes of the present invention.

The antimicrobial agents useful for the present invention include, but are not limited to, herbicides, insecticides, antimicrobial agents, disinfectants and antiseptic agents, antifungal agents (i.e., fungicides), antibacterial agents, herbal extracts, antioxidants, enzymes, proteins, carbohydrates, silver salts, and the like. Any other suitable biologically active agent known in the art can be used to achieve the purposes of the present invention. In some particular embodiments, the active agent is an antimicrobial agent.

Man-made anti-microbial agents include, as non-limiting examples, antibiotics including, for example, tetracycline, chlortetracycline, bacitracin, neomycin, polymyxin, gramicidin, cephalexin, oxytetracycline, chloramphenicol, rifampicin, ciprofloxacin, tobramycin, gentamycin, erythromycin, penicillin, sulfonamides, sulfadiazine, sulfacetamide, sulfamethizole, sulfisoxazole, nitrofurazone, sodium propionate, aminoglycosides such as gentamicin and tobramycin; fluoroquinolones such as ciprofloxacin, gatifloxacin, levofloxacin, moxifloxacin, norfloxacin, ofloxacin; bacitracin, erythromycin, fusidic acid, neomycin, polymyxin B, gramicidin, trimethoprim and sulfacetamide; and antifungals such as amphotericin B and miconazole.

Natural anti-microbial agents include, as non-limiting examples, phenolic compounds of natural origin. These actives derive their names from their natural occurrence in plants. These antimicrobial phenolic compounds are the key chemical components of plant essential oils that have been found to provide the antimicrobial benefit.

The phenolic compounds of natural origin as used in the present invention can include, but are not limited to, thymol (present for example in thyme), eugenol (present for example in cinnamon), menthol (present for example in mint), geraniol (present for example in geranium or rose), verbenone (present for example in vervain), eucalyptol (present for example in eucalyptus), cedrol (present for example in cedar), pinocarvone, carvacrol (which is isomeric with thymol, and is present for example in oregano), anethol (present for example in aniseed) hinokitiol, berberine, terpineol, limonene, ratanhiae, citral (present for example in lemon myrtle) and mixtures thereof. According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention the phenolic compounds of natural origin as used in the present invention are thymol, eugenol, carvacrol, and citral. In yet a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, the phenolic compounds of natural origin comprise carvacrol and thymol. In a most preferred embodiment, the phenolic compounds of natural origin comprise thymol. It is important to note that in cases where the composition would include a combination of more than one phenolic compound, the combination would not consist of i-carvacrol, thymol and p-cymene or ii-thymol and terpineol together or in combination with other phenolic compounds. These compounds are described for example, in U.S. Patent

10,285,954.

The phenolic compounds of natural origin as used in the present invention can be synthetically made by known methods within the capacity of a skilled technician or can be obtained from plant oil extracts. In an embodiment of the present invention, the phenolic compounds of natural origin are obtained from plant extracts. In a further embodiment of the present invention, the phenolic compounds of natural origin are commercially available.

Other ingredients may be added to the organic waste, such as preventing and/or inhibiting the discoloration of the organic waste, by adding ascorbic acid. Any method of inhibiting the growth of, and/or killing microbial life can be used according to the present invention. Other methods of treating organic waste include heating the organic waste.

Heat treatment is the application of heat to cease, or significantly reduce bacterial and enzyme activity which then leads to decreasing the rate of

decomposition or putriflcation of the organic waste. Specific types of heat treatment include sterilization and pasteurization.

The aim of sterilization is the reduction of microrganisms and other pathogens initially present in the organic waste. The degree of sterilization is commonly expressed as multiples of the decimal reduction of time, or D-value, denoting the time needed to reduce the initial number to one tenth of it’s original value. Then the number of microrganisms N after sterilization time t is given by:

The D-value is a function of sterilization conditions and varies with the type of microorganism, temperature, water activity, pH etc.. For steam sterilization typically the temperature, in degrees Celsius, is given as an index, as is well known in the art. Theoretically, the likelihood of the survival of an individual microorganism is never zero. To compensate for this, the overkill method is often used. Using the overkill method, sterilization may be performed for longer than is required to kill the bioburden present in the organic waste being sterilized. The science of sterilization is relatively well known and has been in use for more than 100 years. The skilled artisan will understand the process and be capable of varying the parameters of the process as necessary to use sterilization in the challenging area of food waste where the differing sources, varying size of materials making up the waste to be processed and even the different states (liquid and solid and mixtures thereof) of the waste may make processing difficult.

A specific type of heat treatment used would be UHT (Ultra-High

Temperature) Sterilization. This type of heat treatment focuses on sterilization over 100 degrees Celsius. Two other types of sterilization are moist and dry heat sterilization. During moist heat sterilization, the temperatures that are used can vary significantly but generally range from about 1 10 to about 130 degrees Celsius. The amount of time that sterilization can take place with moist heat can vary significantly but can generally be from about 20 minutes to about 40 minutes. It is well known that the higher the heat, the shorter the time necessary for sterilization to take place. The use of dry heat sterilization uses longer times of susceptibility that may last up to 2 hours and that use much higher temperatures compared to moist heat sterilization. These temperatures may vary significantly but generally range from about 160 to about 180 degrees Celsius.

A widely used method for heat sterilization is moist heat sterilization, also known as the autoclave method, or, converter or steam sterilization. Autoclaves use steam heated to 121-134 °C (250-273 °F) under pressure. To achieve sterility, organic waste is placed in a chamber and heated by injected steam until the article reaches a temperature and time setpoint. Almost all the air is removed from the chamber, because air is undesired in the moist heat sterilization process. The organic waste is held at the temperature setpoint for a period of time which varies depending on what bioburden is present in the organic waste being sterilized and its resistance (D-value) to steam sterilization. A general cycle would be anywhere between 3 and 15 minutes, (depending on the generated heat) at 121 °C (250 °F) at 100 kPa ( 15 psi), which is sufficient to provide a sterility assurance level of 10^-4 for a product with a bioburden of 10⁶ and a D-value of 2.0 minutes. Following sterilization, liquids in a pressurized autoclave must be cooled slowly to avoid boiling over when the pressure is released. This may be achieved by gradually depressurizing the sterilization chamber and allowing liquids to evaporate under a negative pressure, while cooling the contents.

Proper autoclave treatment will inactivate all resistant bacterial spores in addition to fungi, bacteria, and viruses, but is not expected to eliminate all prions, which vary in their resistance. For prion elimination, various recommendations state 121— 132 °C (250-270 °F) for 60 minutes or 134 °C (273 °F) for at least 18 minutes.

Dry heat sterilization may also be used, but is believed to be limited to use when the organic material has been substantially dried and has a low moisture content.

Tyndallization sterilization may also be used to sterilize organic waste. The process involves boiling for a period (typically 20 minutes) at atmospheric pressure, cooling, incubating for a day, and then repeating the process a total of three to four times. The incubation periods are to allow heat-resistant spores surviving the previous boiling period to germinate to form the heat-sensitive vegetative (growing) stage, which can be killed by the next boiling step. This is effective because many spores are stimulated to grow by the heat shock.

The skilled artisan will appreciate that the process of sterilization is well known and that methods of sterilization are commonly used throughout the food processing industry. One of ordinary skill in the food processing art is capable of designing a sterilization process for organic waste in general and the specific individual varieties of organic and food waste without undue experimentation.

Organic waste which is heat treated according to the present invention may be preserved as sterile or pasteurized through use of containers and storage or use in a sterile, or substantially sterile environment. The use of aspetic techniques in the buildings housing the production of insect mass through larvae growth helps maintain the period of sterility so as to allow the use of treated organic waste for longer periods of time. Also, the use of substantially sealed containers, or bags, to grow the insect mass, helps preserve sterility.

. The skilled artisan will appreciate that the process of sterilization is well known and that methods of sterilization are commonly used throughout the food processing industry. One of ordinary skill in the food processing art is capable of designing a sterilization process for organic waste in general and the specific individual varieties of organic and food waste without undue experimentation.

Pasteurization may also be used to lengthen the period of time which organic waste may be used to feed insect larvae.

Pasteurization or pasteurisation is a process in which water and certain packaged and non-packaged foods (such as milk and fruit juice) are treated with mild heat, usually to less than 100 °C (212 °F), to eliminate pathogens and extend shelf life. The process is intended to destroy or deactivate organisms and enzymes that contribute to spoilage or risk of disease, including vegetative bacteria. Since pasteurization is not sterilization, and does not kill spores, a second "double" pasteurization will extend the quality by killing spores that have germinated.

Pasteurization is a process used widely in the dairy industry and other food processing industries to achieve food preservation and food safety. The skilled artisan will know and understand how to manipulate the parameters, equipment, and materials used in pasteurization, to preserve organic waste for the purposes of the present invention.

Most liquid products are heat treated in a continuous system where heat can be applied using a plate heat exchanger or the direct or indirect use of hot water and steam. Due to the mild heat, there are minor changes to the nutritional quality and sensory characteristics of the treated organic waste. Pascalization or high pressure processing (HPP) and pulsed electric field (PEF) are non-thermal processes that are also used to pasteurize foods.

Pasteurization is a mild heat treatment of liquid materials (both packaged and unpackaged) where products are typically heated to below 100 °C to extend their time for use. The heat treatment and cooling process are designed to inhibit a phase change of the product. The acidity of the material determines the parameters (time and temperature) of the heat treatment as well as the duration of useful life. Parameters also take into account nutritional and sensory qualities that are sensitive to heat.

According to the present invention organic waste is pasteurized using continuous or batch (not continuous) systems that may have a heating zone, hold tube, and a cooling zone. Plate heat exchangers can be used when the organic waste is low viscosity material such as animal milks, nut milks and juices. A plate heat exchanger is composed of many thin vertical stainless steel plates which separate the liquid from the heating or cooling medium. Scraped surface heat exchangers contain an inner rotating shaft in the tube, and serve to scrape highly viscous material which might accumulate on the wall of the tube.

Shell or tube heat exchangers are designed for the pasteurization of Non- Newtonian organic wastes such as dairy products, tomato ketchup, material having the consistency of pumpable fruit, and baby foods. A tube heat exchanger is made up of concentric stainless steel tubes. Food passes through the inner tube while the heating/cooling medium is circulated through the outer or inner tube.

The skilled artisan will appreciate the benefits of using a heat exchanger to pasteurize non-packaged foods versus pasteurizing foods in containers are: 1) heat exchangers provide uniform treatment, and there is greater flexibility with regards to the products which can be pasteurized on these plates; 2) the process is more energy-efficient compared to pasteurizing foods in packaged containers greater throughput

After being heated in a heat exchanger, the organic waste flows through a hold tube for a set period of time to achieve the required treatment. If

pasteurization temperature or time is not achieved, a flow diversion valve is utilized to divert under-processed organic waste back to the raw product tank If the product is adequately processed, it is cooled in a heat exchanger, then filled. Batch pasteurization units may also be used. These units may be what are effectively large vats that can be heated to whatever temperature necessary to heat process the organic waste. Such vats can often be sealed and pressurized. Some can be stirred.

High-temperature short-time (HTST) pasteurization, (71.5 °C (160.7 °F) for 15 seconds) can ensure that organic waste can be used for at least three days (with the skilled artisan understanding that organic waste so treated may have a use period of far longer periods using this process. In ultra-high-temperature (UHT) pasteurization, organic waste is pasteurized at 135 °C (275 °F) for 1-2 seconds, which extends the use period of the waste for a significant period of time.

Both HTST pasteurization conditions of 72 °C (162 °F) for 15 seconds, as well as batch pasteurization conditions of 63 °C (145 °F) for 30 minutes, have been confirmed to result in the complete thermal death for a range of pathogenic bacteria. For all practical purposes, these conditions were adequate for destroying almost all yeasts, molds, and common spoilage bacteria and also for ensuring adequate destruction of common pathogenic, heat-resistant organisms.

To ensure that all of the organic waste being treated is sufficiently heated, flow in heat exchangers should be turbulent. When batch process are being used, the organic waste can be stirred, vigorously if necessary to ensure that no part of the organic waste is subject to shorter time or a lower temperature. Other thermal and non-thermal processes may be used to pasteurize organic waste. Pascalization or high pressure processing (HPP) and pulsed electric field (PEF) are examples of these non-thermal pasteurization methods that are currently commercially utilized.

Microwave volumetric heating (MVH) is another pasteurization technology using microwaves to heat organic waste that may be used to achieve the purposes of the present invention. Low Temperature, Short Time (LTST) pasteurization is a method that sprays organic waste in a chamber heated below usual pasteurization temperatures. It takes several thousandth of a second to treat liquid products, so the method is also known as the millisecond technology (MST). LTST can

significantly extend the useful period of organic waste when combined with HTST without damaging nutrient content.

EXAMPLES

The following examples are given as non-limiting disclosures of various methods of accomplishing the purposes of the present invention. The skilled artisan will appreciate that one of ordinary skill in the art will be able to change the parameters of each process, including for example, ingredients, process steps and conditions, to obtain the same or different results as may be necessary depending upon prevailing conditions.

Example 1 Air Drying

Brewers grain is spread to an even depth on a clean cement pad in the sun. Every hour the grain is raked to expose that grain that is still visibly dark with moisture is dry. When the grain is dry, the moisture content is measured. Id the moisture content is below 10 percent, the grain is collected and placed into storage containers.

Example 2

Air Drying

Municipal organic waste is separated and shredded until a uniform mass of material is obtained. A 75-pound amount of such uniform waste is put into woven polyethylene or polypropylene bags. Three bags are placed between two pieces of ¾ inch plywood and placed in an hydraulic press. The press is actuated until no further water drains from the bags to produce dewatered organic waste.

Twenty woven bags of dewatered organic waste are loaded onto a pallet. The pallet is placed into an irradiation device to sterilize the waste. The MDS Nordion, Quadura system, a pallet food irradiator is used to irradiate the organic waste. The dewatered and irradiated waste is stored in a facility having a humidity level of less than 15%. Example 3

Anti-Microbial Agents

25 lbs. of bulk powdered erythromycin is mixed into 1 ton of shredded dewatered, irradiated organic waste. The organic waste is put into woven bags and compressed. The bags are sealed and stacked onto pallets.

Exa ple 4

Irradiation

One metric ton of dewatered organic waste is placed into a container and the container is placed onto a pallet. The pallet is moved into an irradiation machine and the organic waste is irradiated to sterilize the material. The material is then stored for 60 days until it is used as a feedstuff for insects.

Example 5

Sun Drying

A 250 g, formed, compressed block of dewater organic food waste is placed on a screen in the sun in a temperature of 85° F, and 55% humidity. In less than one hour the block has a water content of less than 8%. 4,000 such blocks are loaded onto a pallet and placed into an irradiation machine and the organic waste is irradiated to sterilize the material. The pallet is then stored in an environment with less than 25% relative humidity and a temperature averaging above 80° F for at least 8 hours per day.

EXAMPLE 6

Approximately, 1000 grams of organic waste (used Kentucky Fried Chicken fryer Oil) is placed in an autoclave with 500 grams of water. The closed vessel is heated until the steam ceases venting or approximately 17 minutes. The heat treated oil is then placed in an open container for 14 days. At the end of 14 days the oil has no untoward smell and is a clear light brown color substantially similar to the oil when originally collected.

Example 7

Approximately 750 grams of rice and steamed vegetables representing food waste from a restaurant, is reduced in size by forcing through a sifter. The resulting mass is mixed with 250 grams of the oil produced in Example 6 and placed in an autoclave together with 500 grams of water. The closed vessel is heated until the steam ceases venting after approximately 19 minutes. The heat treated organic mass is then placed in an 5 gallon rectangular container having 2 inch square vents on four sides, and covered with a 1 mm black plastic sheet for 14 days. At the end of 14 days there is no untoward smell and no sign of microbial life, such as visible mold or fungus growth. All patents, patent applications and other published references are herein incorporated by reference in their entirety as though set forth in full.

It will be understood that other embodiments and examples of the invention will be readily apparent to a person skilled in the art with the scope and breadth of the invention being defined in the appended claims.

Claims

CLAIMS We/I Claim:

1. An improved method of feeding Black Soldier Fly larvae, comprising the steps of:

a. sterilizing or pasteurizing organic waste to minimize the rate of decomposition to form treated organic waste;

b. feeding the treated organic waste to Black Soldier Fly larvae wherein the amount of organic waste used is sufficient to feed the Black Soldier Fly larvae for a period of more than 36 hours.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein the sterilization or pasteurization process is carried out using hot water.

3. A method according to claim 1 wherein the sterilization or pasteurization process is carried out using steam.

4. A method according to Claim 1 wherein the amount of food waste used is sufficient to feed the Black Soldier Fly larvae for a period of more than 4 days.

5. A method according to Claim 1 wherein the amount of food waste used is sufficient to feed the Black Soldier Fly larvae for a period of more than 6 days.

6. A method according to Claim 1 wherein the amount of food waste used is sufficient to feed the Black Soldier Fly larvae for a period of at least 7 days.

7. A method according to Claim 1 wherein the amount of food waste used is sufficient to feed the Black Soldier Fly larvae for a period of more than 8 days.

8. A method according to Claim 1 wherein the amount of food waste used is sufficient to feed the Black Soldier Fly larvae for a period of more than 10 days.

9. A method according to Claim 1 wherein the amount of food waste used is sufficient to feed the Black Soldier Fly larvae for a period of more than 14 days.

10. A method according to claim 1 wherein the ratio of the weight of treated waste initially placed in contact with new larvae is at least 1 : 1 with the expected weight of the 14 day old larvae grown from that waste.

1 1. A method according to claim 1 wherein the ratio of the weight of treated waste initially placed in contact with new larvae is at least 1.5: 1 with the expected weight of the 14 day old larvae grown from that waste.

12. A method according to claim 1 wherein the ratio of the weight of treated waste initially placed in contact with new larvae is at least 2: 1 with the expected weight of the 14 day old larvae grown from that waste.

13. A method according to claim 1 wherein the ratio of the weight of treated waste initially placed in contact with new larvae is at least 2.5:1 with the expected weight of the 14 day old larvae grown from that waste.

14. A method according to claim 1 wherein the ratio of the weight of treated waste initially placed in contact with new larvae is at least 3 : 1 with the expected weight of the 14 day old larvae grown from that waste.

15. A method according to claim 1 wherein the ratio of the weight of treated waste initially placed in contact with new larvae is at least 3.5: 1 with the expected weight of the 14 day old larvae grown from that waste.

16. A method according to claim 1 wherein the ratio of the weight of treated waste initially placed in contact with new larvae is at least 4:1 with the expected weight of the 14 day old larvae grown from that waste.

17. An improved method of feeding Black Soldier Fly larvae, comprising the steps of:

a. sterilizing organic waste to minimize the rate of decomposition to form treated organic waste;

18. An improved process according to claim 17 wherein sterilization is performed with heat and water.

19. An improved method of feeding Black Soldier Fly larvae, comprising the steps of: a. pasteurizing organic waste to minimize the rate of decomposition to form treated organic waste;

20. An improved process according to claim 1 wherein heat treatment

(sterilization or pasteurization) is performed with heat and water.

21. An improved process according to claim 20 wherein heat treatment is performed at a temperature between about 60° and about 150° C.

22. An improved process according to claim 20 wherein heat treatment is performed at a temperature between about 70° and about 99° C.

23. An improved process according to claim 20 wherein heat treatment is performed on a continuous basis for a period of between 1 second and 60 seconds.

23. An improved process according to claim 20 wherein heat treatment is performed on a batch basis for a period of between 1 minute and four hours.

24. An improved method of feeding Black Soldier Fly larvae, comprising the steps of:

a. treating organic waste by killing all microbial life forms therein to a to minimize the rate of decomposition to form treated organic waste; b. feeding the treated organic waste to Black Soldier Fly larvae wherein the amount of organic waste used is sufficient to feed the Black Soldier Fly larvae for a period of more than two days.

24. A method according to claim 23, wherein the treating of the organic waste is treatment to kill microbial life including sterilization or pasteurization performed using heat, hot water, radiation, chemical compound, hot air, or, modifying pH.