Feed Material for Biomass Generator

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018282685-A1
Application number	US-201715474447-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 30, 2017
Priority date	Mar 30, 2017
Publication date	Oct 4, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

A bacteria starter material for use in biomass generators without causing jamming of the feeder mechanism, particularly under high temperature and/or high humidity conditions, the starter material comprising one or more species of waste-decomposing bacteria, sucrose, and a soy based protein. Preferably, Di-Pac sugar (sucrose and maltodextrin) and powdered Kikkoman Soy Sauce are used as the sugar and protein ingredients. The starter material may also comprise a dried bran culture comprising Pseudomonas. The starter material ingredients are blended together and formed into a tablet or pellet having a particular shape, size, and hardness characteristics suitable for use in the feeder mechanism of a biomass generator.

First claim

We claim:

1 . A biomass generator feed material in tablet form, the feed material comprising the following ingredients:
at least one Bacillus species; a soy protein; sucrose; and starch.

2 . The feed material of claim 1 wherein the ingredients are mixed throughout the tablet.

3 . The feed material of claim 1 wherein the tablet is configured for use in a semi-automated feeder system without jamming by having a substantially cylindrical shape with convex ends, a length-to-diameter-ratio between about 0.9 and about 1.2, and a cup depth between about 0.018 inches and about 0.048 inches.

4 . The feed material of claim 1 wherein the tablet has a hardness between about 5.5 kilopond and about 8.5 kilopond.

5 . The feed material of claim 1 further comprising a dried culture of bran and non-spore forming Pseudomonas.

6 . The feed material of claim 5 wherein the Bacillus bacteria is one or more of Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus licheniformis, Bacillus thuringiensis, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, or Bacillus simplex.

7 . The feed material of claim 5 wherein the Bacillus bacteria is without a carrier.

8 . The feed material of claim 6 wherein the Bacillus bacteria is without a carrier.

9 . The feed material of claim 5 further comprising maltodextrin.

10 . The feed material of claim 9 wherein the soy protein comprises powdered soy sauce.

11 . The feed material of claim 1 wherein the tablet comprises around 2-7% soy protein and around 25-40% sucrose by weight.

12 . The feed material of claim 1 further comprising a dried culture of bran and non-spore forming Pseudomonas and wherein the tablet comprises around 0.1-10% of the Pseudomonas and Bacillus by combined weight.

13 . The feed material of claim 12 wherein the tablet or pellet comprises around 5% powdered soy sauce as the soy protein and around 33% to 35% sucrose by weight.

14 . The feed material of claim 13 wherein the starch is corn starch.

15 . The feed material of claim 13 further comprising around 0.5% to 1.5% maltodextrin by weight.

16 . The feed material of claim 15 further comprising around 0.1-1% microcrystalline cellulose by weight.

17 . The feed material of claim 16 wherein the tablet or pellet comprises less than 2% bran by weight.

18 . The feed material of claim 1 wherein the tablet maintains structural stability and does not stick to another tablet of the same feed material when stored at temperatures between around 40 F and around 115 F for up to 30 days.

19 . The feed material of claim 1 wherein the tablet maintains structural stability and does not stick to another tablet of the same feed material when stored at relative humidity levels between around 0% and around 67% for up to 30 days.

20 . The feed material of claim 1 wherein the sucrose has a mesh size between 40 and 200.

21 . The feed material of claim 1 wherein at least 75% of the sucrose has a mesh size of around 100.

22 . The feed material of claim 20 wherein the soy protein and starch have a mesh size between 20 and 30.

23 . The feed material of claim 12 wherein at least 75% of the sucrose has a mesh size of around 100 and wherein the soy protein, starch, and dried bran culture have a mesh size between 20 and 30.

24 . The feed material of claim 1 wherein the soy protein is Kikkoman Powdered Soy Sauce or Tamari soy.

Assignees

• Nch Corp

Inventors

• Pruitt Judith G
• Pearce Iii Robert C
• Aberle Daniel
• Greenwald Charles J

Classifications

• C12N1/20 Primary

  Bacteria; Culture media therefor · CPC title

• C02F3/348 Primary

  characterised by the way or the form in which the microorganisms are added or dosed · CPC title

• C02F2103/005

  Black water originating from toilets · CPC title