Agglomerated microbiological media

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9765293-B2
Application number	US-201314415744-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 22, 2013
Priority date	Jul 25, 2012
Publication date	Sep 19, 2017
Grant date	Sep 19, 2017

Abstract

A method of making a flowable, dried agglomerated nutrient medium is provided. The method comprises introducing a nutrient component comprising a powdered nutrient, and an agglomeration liquid, into an agglomerator comprising a flow-through-type agglomeration chamber, wet-massing the nutrient component with the agglomeration liquid in the agglomeration chamber for a predetermined period of time to form agglomerated nutrient medium particles, and exposing the agglomerated nutrient medium particles to drying conditions for a period of time to form the dried, agglomerated nutrient medium. The nutrient component facilitates the growth of a microorganism. Compositions, articles, and kits comprising the flowable, dried agglomerated nutrient medium are also provided.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of making a flowable, dried agglomerated nutrient medium, the method comprising:
introducing a nutrient component comprising a powdered nutrient, and an agglomeration liquid, into an agglomerator comprising a flow-through-type agglomeration chamber and a mixing blade;
wherein the nutrient component facilitates the growth of a microorganism;
wherein the agglomeration liquid is introduced as an atomized spray;
wherein introducing the nutrient component into the agglomeration chamber comprises introducing the nutrient component at a feed rate of about 50 kg/hour to about 1000 kg/hour;
wherein introducing the agglomeration liquid into the agglomeration chamber comprises introducing the agglomeration liquid at a spray rate about 15 kg/hour to about 300 kg/hour;

wet-massing the nutrient component with the agglomeration liquid in the agglomeration chamber for a predetermined period of time to form agglomerated nutrient medium particles;
exposing the agglomerated nutrient medium particles to drying conditions for a period of time to form the dried, agglomerated nutrient medium;
wherein the mixing blade is rotated at a blade rotation rate of about 500 rpm to about 4000 rpm;
wherein exposing the agglomerated nutrient medium to drying conditions comprises exposing the agglomerated nutrient medium to a predetermined temperature about 60° C. to about 85° C.;
wherein the feed rate, the spray rate, the blade rotation rate, and the predetermined temperature are selected to produce a dried agglomerated nutrient medium having particles of a first particle size distribution range of about 105 microns to about 2000 microns; and
isolating a subpopulation of the particles, the subpopulation having a second particle size distribution range that is narrower than the first particle size distribution range, the second particle size distribution range being about 149 microns to 1000 microns.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the agglomeration liquid consists of water.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the agglomeration liquid comprises a solvent having a dissolved nutrient that facilitates the growth of a microorganism.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein introducing a nutrient component comprises introducing a substantially uniform mixture of two or more powdered nutrients.

5. The method of claim 1 :
wherein introducing a nutrient component into the agglomeration chamber comprises introducing the nutrient component at a feed rate of about 50 kg/hour to about 1000 kg/hour;
wherein introducing an agglomeration liquid into the agglomeration chamber comprises introducing the agglomeration liquid at a spray rate of about 15 kg/hour to about 300 kg/hour;
wherein the agglomerator further comprises a mixing blade, wherein the mixing blade is rotated at a blade rotation rate of about 500 rpm to about 4000 rpm;
wherein exposing the agglomerated nutrient medium to drying conditions comprises exposing the agglomerated nutrient medium to a predetermined temperature of about 60° C. to about 85° C.;
wherein the feed rate, the spray rate, the blade rotation rate, and the predetermined temperature are selected to produce a dried agglomerated nutrient medium having a preselected mean water content of less than 5 weight percent.

6. The method of claim 1 :
wherein introducing a nutrient component into the agglomeration chamber comprises introducing the nutrient component at a feed rate of about 50 kg/hour to about 1000 kg/hour;
wherein introducing an agglomeration liquid into the agglomeration chamber comprises introducing the agglomeration liquid at a spray rate about 15 kg/hour to about 300 kg/hour;
wherein the agglomerator further comprises a mixing blade, wherein the mixing blade is rotated at a blade rotation rate of about 500 rpm to about 4000 rpm;
wherein exposing the agglomerated nutrient medium to drying conditions comprises exposing the agglomerated nutrient medium to a predetermined temperature about 60° C. to about 85° C.;

wherein the feed rate, the spray rate, the blade rotation rate, and the predetermined temperature are selected to produce a dried agglomerated nutrient medium having a gravity-packed density of 0.2 to 0.5 grams per cubic centimeter.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein one or more powdered nutrient is selected from the group consisting of a protein, a carbohydrate, a salt and a mixture of any two or more of the foregoing powdered nutrients.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of subjecting the dried agglomerated nutrient medium to a process that reduces the number of viable microorganisms in the dried agglomerated nutrient medium.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein subjecting the dried agglomerated nutrient medium to a process that reduces the number of viable microorganisms comprises exposing the dried agglomerated nutrient medium to ionizing radiation or to ethylene oxide vapor.

Assignees

• 3M Innovative Properties Co

Inventors

• Liu Jie J
• Xia Wensheng

Classifications

• C12N2500/46

  Amines, e.g. putrescine · CPC title

• C12N1/20 Primary

  Bacteria; Culture media therefor · CPC title

• C12N1/16 Primary

  Yeasts; Culture media therefor · CPC title

• C12N1/00 Primary

  Microorganisms; Compositions thereof (medicinal preparations containing material from protozoa, bacteria or viruses A61K35/66, from algae A61K36/02, from fungi A61K36/06; preparing medicinal bacterial antigen or antibody compositions, e.g. bacterial vaccines, A61K39/00); Processes of propagating, maintaining or preserving microorganisms or compositions thereof; Processes of preparing or isolating a composition containing a microorganism; Culture media therefor · CPC title

• C12M25/14

  Scaffolds; Matrices (in general C12N5/0068) · CPC title