Ecovative Design LLC

Ecovative LLC

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Gavin Mcintyre

Eben Bayer

Gavin Reim McIntyre

Alex Carlton

Jacob Michael Winiski

Burt L Swersey

Peter James Mueller

Christopher Scully

Lucy Elaine Greetham

Sarah Araldi

Jessica Hannah Kaplan-Bie

Ian Bonesteel

Meghan Anne O'Brien

Russell Allan Hazen

Alex Stephen Friedman

Stephen Lomnes

Amanda Palazzolo

Daniel Flagg

Jessica Kaplan-Bie

Ian Thomas Bonesteel

Asa Trench Snyder

Jessie Kaplan-Bie

A mycological biopolymer material is subjected to treatment in one or more solutions that work to enhance and/or retain the inherent material properties of the material. In one embodiment, the solution is an organic solution; in another embodiment, the solution is an organic solvent with a salt; in another embodiment, the solution is an organic solvent phenol and/or polyphenol; and in another embodiment, a series of such solutions is used.

Solution based post-processing methods for mycological biopolymer material and mycological product made thereby

This application relates generally to aerial mycelium and methods of making aerial mycelium suitable for use as a food or textile product or ingredient. The aerial mycelium can be grown using a growth matrix provided into a growth environment and introducing aqueous mist into the growth environment. The aqueous mist has a mist deposition rate and a mean mist deposition rate to allow for aerial mycelial growth from the growth matrix.

Aerial mycelia and methods of making same

The method grows a mycelial mass over a three-dimensional lattice such that a dense network of oriented hyphae is formed on the lattice. Growth along the lattice results in mycelium composite with highly organized hyphae strands and allows the design and production of composites with greater strength in chosen directions due to the organized nature of the supporting mycelia structure.

Method of forming a mycological product

A mycological biopolymer product consisting entirely of fungal mycelium is made by inoculating a nutritive substrate with a selected fungus in a sealed environment except for a void space, which space is subsequently filled with a network of undifferentiated fungal mycelium. The environmental conditions for producing the mycological biopolymer product, i.e. a high carbon dioxide (CO) content (from 5% to 7% by volume) and an elevated temperature (from 85&#xb0; F. to 95&#xb0; F.), prevent full differentiation of the fungus into a mushroom. There are no stipe, cap, or spores produced. The biopolymer product grows into the void space of the tool, filling the space with an undifferentiated mycelium chitin-polymer, which is subsequently extracted from the substrate and dried.

Mycological biopolymers grown in void space tooling

The composite material is comprised of a substrate of discrete particles and a network of interconnected mycelia cells bonding the discrete particles together. The composite material is made by inoculating a substrate of discrete particles and a nutrient material with a preselected fungus. The fungus digests the nutrient material over a period of time sufficient to grow hyphae and to allow the hyphae to form a network of interconnected mycelia cells through and around the discrete particles thereby bonding the discrete particles together to form a self-supporting composite material.

Composite material

The composite material is comprised of a substrate of discrete particles and a network of interconnected mycelia cells bonding the discrete particles together. The composite material is a made by inoculating a substrate of discrete particles and a nutrient material with a preselected fungus. The fungus digests the nutrient material over a period of time sufficient to grow hyphae and to allow the hyphae to form a network of interconnected mycelia cells through and around the discrete particles thereby bonding the discrete particles together to form a self-supporting composite material. In another embodiment, the fungus is allowed to grow as a fruiting body out of the substrate and within an enclosure to completely fill the enclosure to form a self-supporting structure.

Method for producing grown materials

The product is made, in part, of a network of interconnected mycelia cells forming a mass. In one embodiment, the mass includes one or more embedded elements, such as a panel. In another embodiment, the mass is formed over a three-dimensional lattice. The mycelia cells form hyphae that bond directly to panels made of cellulosic materials.

Fabricated panel

A method of fermenting mycelium composite materials wherein layers of fermentable material are stacked in alteration with ventilation layers with air being passed through the ventilation layers to remove heat and gas generated in the layers of fermentable material during fermentation thereof. The obtained composite materials may be formed into cohesive flat boards, such as are used in the manufacture of insulation or furniture.

Method of fermenting mycelium composite material

A growth medium formed as an inoculum including a preselected fungus and a nutrient material capable of being digested by the fungus is placed in or on a tool formed of a material capable of being at least partially consumed by the fungus. The tool may define a cavity of predetermined shape for the growth medium or the tool may form a scaffolding on which the growth medium grows into the final product taking on the shape of the tool.

Method of growing mycological biomaterials

The process of growing a homogeneous polymer matrix comprising the steps of growing a viable mycelium in a liquid suspension; extracting mycelium from the liquid suspension; thereafter incubating the mycelium for a period of time sufficient to induce mycelium cohesion and to form a solid material; and thereafter drying the solid material to remove moisture and to inactivate the mycelium.

Method of producing a chitinous polymer derived from fungal mycelium

A living hydrated mycelium composite containing at least one of a combination of mycelium and fibers, mycelium and particles, and mycelium, particles and fibers is processed with a nutrient material to promote mycelia tissue growth; thereafter dehydrated to a moisture content of less than 50% by weight to deactivate the further growth of mycelia tissue; and then stored. The stored dehydrated mycelium composite is further processed by rehydrating to reactivate the mycelium and to initiate growth of at least one fruiting body.

Method for making dehydrated mycelium elements and product made thereby

The composite material is comprised of a substrate of discrete particles and a network of interconnected mycelia cells bonding the discrete particles together. The composite material forms a core to which one or more boards of veneer material are bonded to form a panel.

Self-supporting composite material made with mycelia cells and method of making same

A self-supporting composite material is made with a shape conforming to the shape of an enclosure within which the composite material is incubated and molded. In on embodiment, a lid with at least one extrusion is placed over the enclosure to form a void in the final product corresponding to the extrusion. In another embodiment, a tool with extruded features is pressed into a face of the product in the enclosure to mold features into the finished product.

Growing community of inventors

Troy, NY, United States of America

Eben Bayer