Delivery systems for mycotechnologies, mycofiltration and mycoremediation

• US 20080264858A1
• Filed: 06/24/2008
• Published: 10/30/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Turtle Bear Holdings LLC
• Original Assignee: Turtle Bear Holdings LLC
• Inventors: Stamets, Paul Edward
• Application Number:
  US12/214,934
• Publication Number:
  US 20080264858A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 210/611
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 63/30 Microbial fungi; Substances produced thereby or obtained therefrom
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 63/34 Aspergillus
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 63/36 Penicillium
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 63/38 Trichoderma
• CPC Class Codes: Y02W 10/37 using solar energy

Abstract

The present invention utilizes fungal spore mass or hyphal fragments in burlap bags or sacks filled with biodegradable materials. The fungi may include saprophytic fungi, including gourmet and medicinal mushrooms, mycorrhizal fungi, entomopathogenic fungi, parasitic fungi and fungi imperfecti. The fungi function as keystone species, delivering benefits to both the microsphere and biosphere. Such fungal delivery systems are useful for purposes including ecological rehabilitation and restoration, preservation and improvement of habitats, bioremediation of toxic wastes and polluted sites, filtration of agricultural, mine and urban runoff, improvement of agricultural yields and control of biological organisms.

Claims

1. A mycobag comprising a burlap bag filled with a biodegradable material and inoculated with a saprophytic fungus.

2. The mycobag of claim 1 wherein the biodegradable material is selected from the list consisting of woodchips, sawdust, straw, paper, cardboard, agricultural waste products, wood wastes, composts and combinations thereof.

3. The mycobag of claim 1 wherein the saprophytic fungus is selected from the group consisting of Pleurotus, Piptoporus, Fomitopsis, Trametes, Hypsizygus, Ganoderma, Inonotus and polypore mushrooms.

4. The mycobag of claim 1 wherein the saprophytic fungus is selected from the group consisting of Pleurotus ostreatus, Pleurotus pulmonarius, Pleurotus dryinus, Pleurotus tuberregium, Piptoporus betulinus, Fomitopsis pinicola, Fomitopsis officinalis, Trametes versicolor, Hypsizygus ulmarius, Ganoderma lucidum, Ganoderma applanatum, Ganoderma curtisii, Ganoderma oregonense and Ganoderma tsugae.

5. The mycobag of claim 1 wherein the mycobag additionally comprises seeds selected from the group consisting of seeds of grasses, bushes, trees, hyperaccumulator plants and combinations thereof.

6. A method of filtering agricultural and urban water runoff containing toxins comprising treating the water runoff with a burlap bag filled with a biodegradable material and inoculated with a saprophytic fungus.

7. A method of filtering agricultural and urban water runoff containing bacteria comprising treating the water runoff with a burlap bag filled with a biodegradable material inoculated with a saprophytic fungus.

8. A method of filtering agricultural and urban water runoff containing coliform bacteria comprising treating the water runoff with a burlap bag filled with a biodegradable material inoculated with a saprophytic fungus.

9. A method of filtering agricultural and urban water runoff containing Escherichia coli comprising treating the water runoff with a burlap bag filled with a biodegradable material inoculated with a saprophytic fungus.

10. The method of filtering agricultural and urban water runoff containing Escherichia coli of claim 9 wherein the saprophytic fungus is a Pleurotus species.

11. The method of filtering agricultural and urban water runoff containing Escherichia coli of claim 9 wherein the Pleurotus species is selected from the group consisting of Pleurotus ostreatus, Pleurotus pulmonarius, Pleurotus dryinus and Pleurotus tuberregium.

12. The method of filtering agricultural and urban water runoff containing Escherichia coli of claim 9 wherein the saprophytic fungus is Piptoporus betulinus.

13. The method of filtering agricultural and urban water runoff containing Escherichia coli of claim 9 wherein the saprophytic fungus is Fomitopsis officinalis.

14. A method of filtering agricultural and urban water runoff containing industrial toxins comprising treating the water runoff with a burlap bag filled with a biodegradable material inoculated with a saprophytic fungus.

15. The method of filtering agricultural and urban water runoff containing industrial toxins of claim 14 wherein the saprophytic fungus is Pleurotus ostreatus.

16. The method of filtering agricultural and urban water runoff containing industrial toxins of claim 14 wherein the saprophytic fungus is Trametes versicolor.

17. The method of filtering agricultural and urban water runoff containing industrial toxins of claim 14 wherein the saprophytic fungus is Hypsizygus ulmarius.

18. A method of filtering agricultural and urban water runoff containing petroleum products comprising treating the water runoff with a burlap bag filled with a biodegradable material and inoculated with a saprophytic fungus.

19. The method of filtering agricultural and urban water runoff containing petroleum products of claim 18 wherein the saprophytic fungus is Pleurotus ostreatus.

20. The method of filtering agricultural and urban water runoff containing petroleum products of claim 18 wherein the saprophytic fungus is Trametes versicolor.

21. The method of filtering agricultural and urban water runoff containing petroleum products of claim 18 wherein the saprophytic fungus is Hypsizygus ulmarius.

22. A method of filtering agricultural and urban water runoff containing heavy metals comprising treating the water runoff with a burlap bag filled with a biodegradable material inoculated with a saprophytic fungus.

23. The method of filtering agricultural and urban water runoff containing heavy metals of claim 22 wherein the saprophytic fungus is Trametes versicolor.

24. A method of filtering agricultural and urban water runoff containing viruses comprising treating the water runoff with a burlap bag filled with a biodegradable material inoculated with a saprophytic fungus.

25. The method of filtering agricultural and urban water runoff containing viruses of claim 24 wherein the saprophytic fungus is a Ganoderma fungus.

26. The method of filtering agricultural and urban water runoff containing viruses of claim 24 wherein the saprophytic fungus is a Fomitopsis fungus.

27. The method of filtering agricultural and urban water runoff containing viruses of claim 24 wherein the saprophytic fungus is a Piptoporus fungus.

28. The method of filtering agricultural and urban water runoff containing viruses of claim 24 wherein the saprophytic fungus is a Inonotus fungus.

29. The method of filtering agricultural and urban water runoff containing viruses of claim 24 wherein the saprophytic fungus is a Trametes fungus.

30. The method of filtering agricultural and urban water runoff containing viruses of claim 24 wherein the saprophytic fungus is a polypore fungus.

31. The method of filtering agricultural and urban water runoff containing viruses of claim 24 wherein the saprophytic fungus is selected from the group consisting of Pleurotus ostreatus, Pleurotus pulmonarius, Pleurotus dryinus, Pleurotus tuberregium, Piptoporus betulinus, Fomitopsis pinicola, Fomitopsis officinalis, Trametes versicolor, Ganoderma lucidum, Ganoderma applanatum, Ganoderma curtisii, Ganoderma oregonense and Ganoderma tsugae.

32. A method of filtering agricultural and urban water runoff containing a contaminant selected from the group consisting of silt, toxins, bacteria, coliform bacteria, Escherichia coli, viruses, protozoa, amoebas, industrial toxins, petroleum products, pesticides, fertilizers, nitrogenous compounds, phosphorus compounds, carbonaceous compounds, chemical pollutants, heavy metals and combinations thereof, comprising treating the water runoff with a mycobag comprising a burlap sack filled with a biodegradable material and inoculated with a fungal inoculant of a saprophytic fungus, wherein the fungal inoculant is selected from the group consisting of spores, mycelium and combinations thereof, and wherein the saprophytic fungus is selected from the group consisting of Pleurotus, Piptoporus, Fomitopsis, Trametes, Hypsizygus, Ganoderma, Inonotus and polypore mushrooms.

33. A method of filtering agricultural and urban water runoff containing a contaminant selected from the group consisting of silt, toxins, bacteria, coliform bacteria, Escherichia coli, viruses, protozoa, amoebas, industrial toxins, petroleum products, pesticides, fertilizers, nitrogenous compounds, phosphorus compounds, carbonaceous compounds, chemical pollutants, heavy metals and combinations thereof, comprising treating the water runoff with a mycobag comprising a burlap sack filled with a biodegradable material and inoculated with a fungal inoculant of a saprophytic fungus, wherein the fungal inoculant is selected from the group consisting of spores, mycelium and combinations thereof, wherein the saprophytic fungus is selected from the group consisting of Pleurotus, Piptoporus, Fomitopsis, Trametes, Hypsizygus, Ganoderma, Inonotus and polypore mushrooms, and wherein the burlap bag also contains plant seeds.

34. The method of filtering agricultural and urban water runoff containing a contaminant of claim 33 wherein the plant seeds are selected from the group consisting of grass seeds, tree seeds and combinations thereof.

35. The method of filtering agricultural and urban water runoff containing a contaminant of claim 34 wherein the grass seeds are selected from the group consisting of seeds of native grasses, erosion-control grasses and combinations thereof and the tree seeds are selected from the group consisting of seeds of poplars, hybrid poplars, cottonwoods, hyperaccumulator trees and combinations thereof.