Fungal Leachate and Method of Making Same

• US 20130309755A1
• Filed: 05/02/2013
• Published: 11/21/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Ecovative LLC
• Original Assignee: Ecovative LLC
• Inventors: McIntyre, Gavin, Van Hook, Sue, Winiski, Jacob, Greetham, Lucy, Hart, Courtney
• Application Number:
  US13/875,425
• Publication Number:
  US 20130309755A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 435/256.8
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 1/14 Fungi culture of mushrooms A01G18/00; as new plants A01H15/00; Culture media therefor
• CPC Class Codes: C12P 7/20 Glycerol
• CPC Class Codes: C12P 7/22 aromatic
• CPC Class Codes: C12P 7/6409 Fatty acids

Abstract

A method of producing a fungal leachate solution comprises the steps of obtaining a feedstock of lignocellulosic substrate; colonizing the substrate with a selected fungus; and adding water to the colonized substrate to form a liquid medium containing at least one of sugar alcohol, a phenolic compound and a fatty acid. A leachate from the liquid medium can be used as a liquid culture medium to culture fungi.

Claims

1. A fungal leachate solution containing a water soluble fraction of fungally colonized and decomposed lignocellulosic substrate.

2. A method of producing a fungal leachate solution comprising the steps of

obtaining a feedstock of lignocellulosic substrate;

colonizing said substrate with a selected fungi; and

adding water to said colonized substrate to form a liquid medium containing at least one of sugar alcohol, a phenolic compound and a fatty acid.

3. A method as set forth in claim 2 wherein said sugar alcohol is glycerin, said phenolic compound is 2,6 Dimethoxy phenol and said fatty acid is pentadecanoic acid.

4. A method as set forth in claim 2 wherein said liquid medium contains at least one of a carbonyl and a phenyl.

5. A method as set forth in claim 4 wherein said Carbonyl is one of heptanal and pentanal and said phenyl is benzoic acid.

6. A method as set forth in claim 2 wherein said feedstock is soaked in said water at room temperature for a period sufficient to leach water soluble compounds and which further comprises the step of thereafter removing solid substrate while retaining liquid leachate.

7. A method as set forth in claim 2 wherein said feedstock is soaked in said water and heated to a temperature of at least 180°

Fahrenheit for a period sufficient to leach water soluble compounds and which further comprises the step of thereafter removing solid substrate while retaining liquid leachate.

8. A method as set forth in claim 2 wherein said feedstock is soaked in said water for a period sufficient to leach water soluble compounds and to form a slurry comprised of liquid leachate and solid substrate.

9. A method as set forth in claim 2 wherein said feedstock is dehydrated prior to said step of adding water.

10. A method as set forth in claim 2 wherein said feedstock of lignocellulosic substrate is comprised of spent mushroom substrate characterized in having had at least one flush of mature sporocarps harvested therefrom.

11. A method as set forth in claim 2 wherein said feedstock of lignocellulosic substrate is comprised of spent mushroom substrate characterized in not having had a flush of mature sporocarps harvested therefrom.

12. A method comprising the steps of

obtaining a feedstock of lignocellulosic substrate;

colonizing said substrate with a selected fungi;

adding water to said colonized substrate to form a liquid medium containing at least one of sugar alcohol, a phenolic compound and a fatty acid;

inoculating said liquid medium with a selected fungus; and

thereafter incubating said inoculated liquid medium to effect metabolizing and colonization of said liquid medium.

13. A method comprising the steps of

obtaining a feedstock of lignocellulosic substrate;

colonizing said substrate with a selected fungi;

adding water to said colonized substrate to form a liquid medium containing at least one of sugar alcohol, a phenolic compound and a fatty acid;

adding said liquid medium to a solid lignocellulosic substrate;

thereafter inoculating said solid lignocellulosic substrate with a selected fungus; and

thereafter incubating said inoculated lignocellulosic substrate to effect metabolizing and colonization of said lignocellulosic substrate.

14. A fungal leachate solution containing a water soluble fraction of fungally colonized and decomposed rye straw.

15. A method of producing a fungal leachate solution comprising the steps of

obtaining a feedstock of rye straw;

colonizing and decomposing said feedstock with a primary saprophyte; and

adding water to said colonized substrate to form a liquid medium.