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US4149936A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

High surface low volume fungal biomass composite

Assignee: Corning Glass Works
•
Filing: 1978-06-26
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Granted: 1979-04-17
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Expires: 1998-06-26
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Abstract

Abstract Immobilized microbe composite comprising a porous, high surface area inorganic support having a controlled population of fungus-like microbes bonded to the internal surfaces of the pores, the support being water insoluble, non-toxic to the microbes, and having a controlled porosity such that at least 70% of the pores, on a pore size distribution basis, have a pore diameter at least as large as the smallest diameter of the fungal spore but less than about sixteen times the largest spore diameter. The composites are especially useful in situations requiring a high biomass surface within a relatively small volume.

Inventors

  • 👤 Ralph A. Messing
  • 👤 Robert A. Oppermann

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-24 11:16
CPC Classifications
C; C12; C12N; C12N11/00; C12N11/14; C12N11/02; C12N11/08; C12N11/089; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S435/00; Y10S435/8215; Y10S435/822; Y10S435/886; Y10S435/902; Y10S435/911; Y10S435/913; Y10S435/917; Y10S435/933; Y10S435/935

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim 83 words
An immobilized microbe composite comprising a porous, high surface area inorganic support having a controlled population of fungus-like microbes bonded to the internal surfaces of the pores, the support being water-insoluble, non-toxic to the microbes, and having a controlled porosity such that at least 70% of the pores, on a pore size distribution basis, have a pore diameter at least as large as the smallest spore dimension of the microbes but less than about sixteen times the largest major dimension of the spore.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 83 words
An immobilized microbe composite comprising a porous, high surface area inorganic support having a controlled population of fungus-like microbes bonded to the internal surfaces of the pores, the support being water-insoluble, non-toxic to the microbes, and having a controlled porosity such that at least 70% of the pores, on a pore size distribution basis, have a pore diameter at least as large as the smallest spore dimension of the microbes but less than about sixteen times the largest major dimension of the spore.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 16 words
The composite of claim 1 wherein the population of microbes comprises fungi of a single species.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 13 words
The composite of claim 1 wherein the inorganic support comprises an amorphous material.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 11 words
The composite of claim 3 wherein the support comprises fritted glass.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 13 words
The composite of claim 1 wherein the inorganic support comprises a crystalline material.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 12 words
The composite of claim 5 wherein the support comprises a cordierite-like material.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 13 words
The composite of claim 5 wherein the support comprises a spinel-zirconia crystalline material.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 26 words
The composite of claim 1 wherein intermediate the support surfaces and the microbes is a coating material selected from residues of polyisocyanates and silane coupling agents.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 25 words
The composite of claim 1 wherein the microbes comprise spores of a fungus selected from the group of Aspergillus niger, Streptomyces olivochromogenes, and Penicillium chrysogenum.
Claim 11
Independent Claim 114 words
A method of preparing a high surface area, low volume biomass composite comprising the step of exposing an aqueous spore or mycelial suspension of a controlled population of fungi-like microbes to a sterilized porous inorganic support material having a porosity such that at least 70% of the pores, on a pore size distribution basis, have pore diameters at least as large as the smallest spore dimension of the microbes but less than about sixteen times the largest major dimension of the spore of the microbes, the exposure being under conditions sufficient to result in the bonding of at least some of the microbes onto the internal surfaces defining the pores of the support material.
Claim 12
Independent Claim 114 words
A method of preparing a high surface area, low volume biomass composite comprising the step of exposing an aqueous spore or mycelial suspension of a controlled population of fungi-like microbes to a sterilized porous inorganic support material having a porosity such that at least 70% of the pores, on a pore size distribution basis, have pore diameters at least as large as the smallest spore dimension of the microbes but less than about sixteen times the largest major dimension of the spore of the microbes, the exposure being under conditions sufficient to result in the bonding of at least some of the microbes onto the internal surfaces defining the pores of the support material.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 31 words
The method of claim 10 wherein, prior to exposure to the microbe suspension, the surfaces of the support are treated with a coating agent selected from polyisocyanates and silane coupling agents.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 26 words
The method of claim 10 wherein the bonding of the microbes onto the internal surfaces defining the pores of the support material is accomplished via adsorption.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 16 words
The method of claim 10 wherein the population of microbes comprises fungi of a single species.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 12 words
The method of claim 10 wherein the support comprises an amorphous material.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 11 words
The method of claim 10 wherein the support comprises fritted glass.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 12 words
The method of claim 10 wherein the support comprises a crystalline material.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 12 words
The method of claim 16 wherein the support comprises a cordierite-like material.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 13 words
The method of claim 16 where the support comprises a spinel-zirconia crystalline material.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 25 words
The method of claim 9 wherein the microbes comprise spores of a fungus selected from the group of Aspergillus niger, Streptomyces olivochromogenes, and Penicillium chrysogenum.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3616246A Cited
US3875008A Cited
CA979547A Cited
US3850751A Cited
US3892580A Cited
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1982-04-16 1982-10-16 1983-04-17 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1986-04-16 1986-10-16 1987-04-17 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1990-04-16 1990-10-16 1991-04-17 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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