Patent Application
20070251352
A preferred embodiment of the invention is further described and explained in relation to the following drawings wherein:
The present invention is a bacterial and nutrient delivery composition containing bran made in the form of a tablet that is structurally stable but readily dissolvable and manufactured in a form that makes the tablet more easily removable from its press.
The tablet has a configuration that reduces the likelihood of premature shearing in tableting presses, and jamming in feeder devices for biomass generators. A problem tablet manufacturers face is the removal of a tablet after it is pressed in a manner that does not chip the tablet or damage the equipment. The typical tablet press has an arm that pushes the tablet out of the press. During removal of the tablet, however, and depending upon the tablet's shape, the arm may chip the tablet or glance it leaving it within the press and possibly damaging the arm. In further efforts to develop a more structurally stable bran and bacterial waste-decomposing tablet, a tablet has been designed that is preferred for tablet press removal.
Such a tablet is exemplified in
A preferred embodiment of the overall dimensions of tablet 10 is shown in Table 1. While Table 1 provides specific dimensions, various sizes are contemplated and it is the overall proportion that is particularly advantageous. The shape of tablet 10 can be expressed as a ratio of the length of the tablet along its longitudinal axis, defined as the distance between end 14 and end 16 (and including the length of cylindrical portion 12), to the diameter across the cylindrical portion 12 (
Tablet 10 preferably comprises at least one waste-decomposing microorganism and also includes bran as a bacterial growth substrate. The preferred proportion of bran in the composition is less than about 2% of the total weight percent of tablet 10 and the bacterial cultures can be any suitable amount, but is between 0.1% and 10% of the total weight of the tablet. Example 1 provides the general relative proportions and Example 2 provides a preferred embodiment of the invention's composition.
Bran is a preferred component of tablet 10. The concentrated bran component results in tablets that are structurally stable for longer periods and possess greater durability. Bran also absorbs moisture within the targeted environment and fosters the tablet's disintegration and also provides a growth substrate for the bacteria as it forms a utility population adequate to decompose waste. Wheat bran is preferred, although other water-absorbing organic matter upon which bacteria thrive is also acceptable.
Waste-decomposing microorganisms useful in tablet 10 can include either spore forming or vegetative bacteria. A plurality of various bacterial forms can also be desirable for use in the generation of a bacterial delivery package for application in various effluent streams. For instance, spore forming and vegetative bacterial forms are desirable in a single package, preferably accomplished by using spray-dried bacteria in bran culture. Spore-forming bacteria are preferable because of their natural stability and their small, consistent particle size is also consistent with the micronized bacteria medium that permits a uniform particle distribution within the tablet and improves its structural integrity. In tableting processes, small consistent particles enhance the compression process presented below. Non-spore-forming bacteria grown on bran particles are less consistent, and are more irregular in shape, densities, sizes, and substrate characteristics, which make them less ideal in the tableting process than spore-forming bacteria.
However, waste-decomposing non-sporeforming bacteria can be grown and dried on a substrate, such as wheat bran when a dry, non-sporeforming bacterial culture is desired for a dry bacterial product. This process results in a stable, concentrated bran culture of the desired bacterial strains which may be spray-dried to minimize the moisture content of the tablet to improve its structural stability. For example, a preferred bran culture that contains Pseudomonas as a waste-decomposing non-sporeforming bacteria (referred to “EcoBionics Bran Culture” in-house and in Example 2) is prepared in the following manner: bran (wheat shorts) are autoclaved to kill background microorganisms, then growth medium mixed with Pseudomonas culture is applied to the autoclaved bran preparation. The bran-Pseudomonas mixture is incubated under humidity for 48 hours then dried for 72 hours to dry the mixture. The final bran culture preparation in this preferred embodiment comprises Pseudomonas bacteria at about 5×109 cfu/g, which is substantially free of other bacteria such as Salmonella, E. coli, and Listeria to provide a more structurally similar bacterial population. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that other non-sporeforming bacteria may also be used.
A preferred combination of spore-forming waste-decomposing microorganisms, referred to collectively “Spore Blend” in Example 2, is about 33% AT31 Bacillus subtilis, about 33% AT316 Bacillus licheniformis, about 17.5% AT3032 Bacillus subtilis, and about 17.5% AT3040 Bacillus thuringiensis. Other suitable cultures known to one of ordinary skill in the art may also be used.
The composition of tablet 10 may further comprise fillers, binders, and buffers and other materials, and without limiting their function by their description, they will be referred to individually as a “base component” for ease of reference. Without limiting the invention, various examples include those derived from organic matter such as carbohydrates, proteins and lipids. Materials that can be used are well known in the art and include, for example, the following compounds and the derivatives thereof: starch, talc, microcrystalline cellulose, lactose, highly dispersed silica, polyvinylpyrrolidone, cellulose powder, mannitol, sorbitol, xylitol, glucose, sucrose, fructose, maltose, dextrose, maltodextrin, kaolin or cellulose derivatives such as methylcellulose, hydroxylpropylcellulose or hydroxypropylmethylcellulose, starch (including various forms such as pre-gelatinized), light anhydrous silicic acid, titanium oxide, magnesium aluminometasilicate and polyethylene glycols, as well as calcium carbonate, calcium, magnesium or glyceryl stearate. Proteins such as casein or other suitable amino acids and their peptide polymers and derivatives thereof, including various nitrogenous compounds, may also be used. Various sodium and calcium salts such as sodium chloride, sodium bicarbonate, disodium phosphate, monosodium phosphate, calcium monohydrogen phosphate, and calcium sulfate may also be used. Various oils, including hydrogenated and partially hydrogenated oils, may be used. Any suitable colorant may also be used. The tablet composition of the present invention can contain additives usually incorporated into tablet compositions in addition to the above-described ingredients so far as the effect of the present invention is not impaired.
One of ordinary skill in the art would appreciate that the proportionate compositions of the bran, at least one waste-decomposing microorganism and other components affect the overall physical properties of the tablet, such as, for example, hardness, compressibility, size, shape, etc., and that the relative compositions will be adjusted to obtain the desired physical properties, such as provided in a preferred embodiment shown in Table 1.
The disclosed bran and waste-decomposing bacteria composition is advantageous for use in a tablet press and as feed material for biomass generators and other applications where waste decomposition is desired. The composition is particularly desirable where a tablet that remains intact and non-friable to withstand shipping and handling and exhibits dimensions amenable for use in feed systems and its method of manufacture accomplishes these advantageous attributes of the tablet.
Methods of manufacturing the bacterial delivery composition in a structurally stable form that maintains bacterial viability are now presented. All raw materials should be stored in an environment that is no greater than about 40% humidity and where the temperature is between 45° F. and 65° F. The relatively low humidity improves the structural stability of the composition and the temperature maintains bacterial viability and promotes blending of the composition. To promote adequate blending, it is preferable that the raw materials are sized to 28-30 mesh prior to their addition. Lower mesh sizes may reduce bacterial viability and larger sizes are difficult to blend. To reduce the mesh size of bacterial cultures, a Stokes' grinder (for example, a grinder such as a bar oscillating granulator) is preferred in part because of its lesser shear and lower heat rather than other grinder types, for instance, a rotary-type grinder where the shear forces are greater. All other components, if not received at 28-30 mesh specification, may be ground with either a Fitzmill (for example, Model IR520 Chilsonator®) or Stokes Grinder or any other grinder capable of reducing the size of the constituent particles to the preferred mesh size and minimize phase separation.
The components of the preferred embodiment presented in Example 2 are blended in a preferred manner, although others may be acceptable, as follows: corn starch, dextrose, and casein are mixed in a blender for 10 minutes, followed by the addition of sodium chloride, calcium sulfate, sodium bicarbonate, disodium phosphate, monosodium phosphate, urea, microcrystalline cellulose, Spore Blend, and bran culture concentrate (pre-ground to 28-30 mesh) and mixed for about 10 minutes. Magnesium stearate is also mixed with the composition and all mixing times are approximate and may be shortened or lengthened, depending upon the materials, the relative humidity, the mesh sizes, and other factors appreciated by one of ordinary skill. The final composition is then formed using a desired tablet press adapted with dies to obtain the preferred tablet shape shown in
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/796,487 filed May 1, 2006.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60796487 | May 2006 | US |
