New use of breadworm feces, planting container paper base material and preparation method thereof

Abstract

The application discloses a new use of breadworm excrement, a planting container paper base material and a preparation method thereof, and relates to the technical field of paper base materials. The breadworm excrement can be used for preparing the planting container paper base material, and the preparation method comprises the following steps: in a strictly controlled feeding environment, breadworm plastic and / or common feed are quantitatively fed, and the breadworm excrement is collected; the breadworm excrement is mixed with clean water, and compost is fully fermented; bagasse is placed in clean water, and an appropriate amount of water is added or reduced to make the bagasse densely suspended in the water, then the fully fermented breadworm excrement is added, and plant papermaking glue is further added, and after being fully stirred, the material is screened, papered and steamed to dry the moisture, and the planting container paper base material is obtained. The material has natural fertilizer effect and antibacterial property, the water absorption rate is greater than or equal to 220%, and the material can be directly used as a planting container, and after watering, the plant growth can be supported without additional fertilization, finally, the material is completely degraded and returned to the field, forming a wasteless cycle from pollution control to agricultural application, and having environmental benefits and economic value.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of paper-based materials technology, specifically to a new use of mealworm excrement, a paper-based material for planting containers, and a method for preparing the same. Background Technology

[0002] Current mainstream plastic treatment technologies have multiple limitations: physical recycling methods can reuse materials, but their sorting and cleaning processes are complex and costly, and they are difficult to handle mixed or contaminated plastic products; landfill disposal not only occupies a large amount of land resources, but also poses a long-term environmental hazard due to the extreme difficulty in degrading plastics, and continues to generate microplastic pollution; incineration technology can reduce volume and recover energy, but it releases highly toxic substances such as dioxins and greenhouse gases during the process, which also cannot solve the microplastic problem, and may even exacerbate air pollution and health risks.

[0003] Biodegradable plastics (such as PLA and PBS), which are highly anticipated, face the practical dilemmas of high raw material costs and insufficient industrial production capacity. Their degradation process often relies on specific industrial conditions (high temperature, high humidity, and specific microorganisms), making it difficult to degrade quickly and effectively in the natural environment, leading to the phenomenon of "pseudo-degradation." In addition, consumers' lack of awareness of labeling and classification further weakens their actual environmental value. These limitations collectively highlight the urgency of developing new, efficient, environmentally friendly, and easily scalable plastic alternatives and degradation technologies. Summary of the Invention

[0004] This invention provides a novel use for mealworm excrement, a paper-based material for planting containers, and a method for preparing the same, aiming to solve the problems existing in the aforementioned background art.

[0005] To achieve the above-mentioned technical objectives, the present invention mainly adopts the following technical solutions: In a first aspect, the present invention discloses the application of mealworm excrement in the preparation of paper-based materials for planting containers.

[0006] Secondly, this invention discloses a method for preparing a paper-based material for planting containers, comprising the following steps: Step 1: In a strictly controlled rearing environment, feed mealworms in measured amounts of plastic and / or regular feed, and collect mealworm feces; Step 2: Mix the mealworm excrement with water and compost until fully fermented; Step 3: Place sugarcane bagasse in clean water and add or subtract water until the sugarcane bagasse is densely suspended in the water. Then add fully fermented mealworm excrement and plant papermaking glue, stir thoroughly, sieve papermaking, and evaporate the water to obtain the final product.

[0007] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, in step 1, the temperature of the rearing environment is 25°C and the humidity is 60%, and the amount of plastic and / or ordinary feed is 25-35g / 1000 animals per day.

[0008] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, in step 1, the plastic is selected from one or both of polystyrene (PS) and polyethylene (PE), and the common feed is selected from wheat bran.

[0009] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, step 2 specifically includes the following steps: Step 21: Mix mealworm excrement with water until the mixture becomes muddy. Add EM composting bacteria, squeeze out excess water, sprinkle EM bacteria on the surface, put it in a sealed box and place it in a cool place to ferment. After 2 days, observe that a lot of water vapor is produced on the surface of the fermentation tank and the color of the excrement becomes darker. Stir the excrement thoroughly to allow it to come into contact with oxygen. After steps 22 and 25 days, open the lid and stir again every three days to maintain the surface humidity at 85-95% and the temperature at 22-27℃. After 14 days, the surface of the feces will be dark brown and the inside will be yellowish-brown. The smell will change dramatically. After 21 days, the fermented feces will produce fertilizer liquid, which can be filtered out. Step 23: Once the smell of the mealworm droppings diminishes and the color becomes the same both inside and out, fermentation is complete.

[0010] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, in step 21, the mass ratio of mealworm excrement to water is 5:1, the mass ratio of the first added EM composting fermentation bacteria to mealworm excrement is 1:20, and the mass ratio of the added EM bacteria to mealworm excrement is 1:100.

[0011] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, in step 3, the method for preparing the sugarcane bagasse is as follows: Step 31: After peeling the sugarcane, roughly cut it into small pieces, soak it in water to remove the sugar inside the sugarcane and soften the fibers. Change the water frequently during the process to prevent rotting and insect infestation. Step 32: Place the sugarcane treated in step 31 into boiling water and steam it, then let it cool naturally to room temperature before taking it out. Step 33: Use a high-speed blender or a household juicer to extract the sugarcane pulp.

[0012] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, in step 3, the ratio of the wet weight of the added sugarcane bagasse to the mass of the mealworm excrement is 2:1, and the ratio of the added plant papermaking glue to the mass of the mealworm excrement is 1:50.

[0013] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, in step 3, the mesh size of the screen is one millimeter.

[0014] Thirdly, the present invention discloses a paper-based material for planting containers prepared by the method described in the second aspect.

[0015] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following beneficial effects: This invention breaks through the limitations of traditional degradation technologies, constructing a closed-loop resource recovery chain of "plastic-insect excrement-material". Insect excrement is rich in chitin (enhancing toughness), lignocellulose (forming a fiber network), and trace elements such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. After fermentation and purification, it can be made into a new type of paper-based material. This material possesses natural fertilizer effects and antibacterial properties, with a water absorption rate of ≥220%. It can be used directly as a planting container, supporting plant growth without additional fertilization after watering (e.g., lettuce germination rate exceeds 95%). Ultimately, it completely degrades and returns to the field, forming a zero-waste cycle from pollution control to agricultural application, possessing both environmental and economic benefits, mainly reflected in the following aspects: ① In terms of degradation technology, it relies on the specific enzymatic hydrolysis of mealworm gut microbes to achieve efficient biodegradation of mixed plastics, breaking through the stringent requirements of raw material purity for traditional physical recycling. ② In terms of resource conversion, the project innovatively utilizes insect excrement rich in chitin and nutrients for deep resource utilization, transforming it into paper-based materials with natural fertilizer effects and antibacterial properties through fermentation and traditional papermaking processes; ③ In terms of application mode, the developed paper-based material itself is a container for planting. Users can "sprinkle water and plant". After the crops are harvested, the material can be completely degraded and returned to the field, forming a new green circular model that integrates pollution control, agricultural planting and soil improvement, with significant environmental and social value. Attached Figure Description

[0016] Figure 1 This is a comparison image of cherry tomato seedlings grown in soil, hydroponically, and in a paper-based environment. A represents cherry tomato seedlings grown in soil, B represents cherry tomato seedlings grown hydroponically, and C represents cherry tomato seedlings in a paper-based environment. Figure 2 This is a comparison image of soil-grown lettuce seedlings, hydroponically grown lettuce seedlings, and paper-based lettuce seedlings. In the image, A represents soil-grown lettuce seedlings, B represents hydroponically grown lettuce seedlings, and C represents paper-based lettuce seedlings. Figure 3 It is a paper-based material. Detailed Implementation

[0017] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this invention clearer, the invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are merely illustrative and not intended to limit the invention.

[0018] Addressing industry pain points such as the inefficiency of traditional recycling methods and the hindered promotion of biodegradable plastics, this invention innovatively constructs a closed-loop solution encompassing "biodegradation - resource conversion - material application." Experimental research scientifically verified the degradation efficiency of mealworms on various plastics, including polyethylene (PE) and polystyrene (PS), and simultaneously developed processes for insect excrement fermentation and pulp preparation. Practice shows that using this material directly as a planting container allows seeds to germinate and grow simply by watering after insertion, without the need for additional fertilization, achieving a convenient and waste-free planting and recycling model of "watering for planting, degradation and return to the field." After seedling cultivation, the paper pots can naturally degrade in the soil, transforming into organic matter, truly forming a perfect closed loop from "plastic pollution" to "new greenery."

[0019] Mealworms possess the ability to biodegrade plastics, primarily due to their unique gut microbiota system. After ingesting polystyrene (PS) or polyethylene (PE), symbiotic bacteria in their intestines (such as *Exiguobacterium* sp. YT2) secrete specific extracellular enzymes that depolymerize the long-chain plastic molecules into lower molecular weight products. This enzymatic reaction is completed within 24 hours, with approximately 47.7% of the degradation products converted into insect protein or carbon dioxide, and the remainder excreted in feces, achieving highly efficient bioconversion of plastics.

[0020] Mealworm excrement is a key intermediate product in the degradation and biotransformation of plastics. Compositional analysis shows that the excrement contains incompletely degraded plastic fragments, microbial remains, chitin, and cellulose. ① Chitin (derived from insect molts and microbial cell walls) constitutes a significant proportion; its high molecular chain structure enhances the mechanical strength and toughness of paper. ② Cellulose (derived from wheat bran and other feed ingredients) provides the fiber network matrix, forming a natural complex with chitin. ③ Trace elements (such as nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, zinc, and iron) endow the excrement with natural fertilizing and antibacterial properties, increasing the environmental added value of paper-based materials.

[0021] Experiments have shown that insect excrement, after purification, can be formed through papermaking processes. Its fiber structure can optimize the air permeability and degradability of paper, providing scientific support for the transformation of "plastic-paper-based" materials.

[0022] The following is a description through specific embodiments.

[0023] Example 1: Verifying the ability and efficiency of mealworms in degrading different plastics Experimental Methods: A control group (fed ordinary wheat bran feed) and an experimental group (fed PS, PE, and a PS + PE mixed plastic, respectively) were set up, with 1000 healthy mealworms of uniform size in each group. Under a rearing environment of 25℃ and 60% humidity, mealworms were fed a fixed amount of plastic (e.g., 30g / group per day) or ordinary feed (wheat bran) for several consecutive cycles (7 days). Key indicators such as survival rate, weight gain, and fecal production were accurately recorded in each cycle. Simultaneously, the feeding behavior and health status of the mealworms were observed to comprehensively investigate the degradation efficiency of mealworms on different types of plastics. The results are shown in Table 1.

[0024] Group Plastic type Feeding amount (g) Number of insects (species) Cycle (days) Survival rate (%) Insect body weight gain (g) Insect excrement yield (g) control group wheat bran 25.0 1000 7 99.2 5.5 162.36 Experimental group 1 PS 25.0 1000 7 98.8 8.44 21.54 Experimental group 2 PE 25.0 1000 7 97.6 3.17 20.39 Experimental group 3 PS+PE 12.5+12.5 1000 17 98.1 4.72 21.32 Table 1 shows that under normal rearing conditions, mealworms fed wheat bran consume approximately 25g of food per day. When fed only PS, the lower levels of PS-degrading enzymes in their bodies result in weakened metabolic capacity, leading to significant plastic accumulation and reduced fecal production. Comparison with feeding only PE indicates that mealworms have a stronger ability to decompose PS. Therefore, in future rearing practices, it is recommended to mix PS with wheat bran to improve the mealworms' metabolic capacity and increase fecal production.

[0025] Example 2 Preparation of paper-based materials for planting containers 1. Fecal pretreatment: ① Mix 500g of collected insect excrement with water in a 5:1 ratio until the mixture resembles soil. ② Add 25g of EM composting bacteria from Shandong Junde Ecological Technology Co., Ltd., squeeze out excess water, sprinkle 5g of EM bacteria on the surface, and place in a sealed container in a cool, dark place to ferment. After 2 days, you will observe a large amount of water vapor on the surface of the fermentation tank, and the surface color of the excrement will darken. Thoroughly stir the excrement to allow it to come into contact with oxygen.

[0026] ② After 25 days, open the lid and stir again every three days, keeping the surface humidity at about 90% and the temperature at 25℃. After 14 days, the surface of the feces will be dark brown and the inside will be yellowish-brown. The smell will change dramatically. After about 21 days, the fermented feces will produce fertilizer liquid, which can be filtered out.

[0027] ③ When the smell of the mealworm droppings diminishes and the color inside and outside becomes the same, it indicates that fermentation is complete.

[0028] Precautions: Mealworm feces produce a pungent odor during fermentation; therefore, wearing a mask is necessary during handling. Color differences between the surface and interior of fermented mealworm feces are normal and do not indicate incomplete fermentation; rather, they are the result of oxidation caused by the reaction between the feces and residual air in the sealed container.

[0029] Sugarcane bagasse treatment: ① Peel 1 kg of sugarcane bagasse, roughly cut it into small pieces, and soak it in water for 7 days to remove the sugar inside the sugarcane and soften the fibers. Change the water frequently during the process to prevent rotting and insect infestation.

[0030] ② Place in boiling water and steam for about 20 minutes until it cools naturally to room temperature, then remove.

[0031] ③ Use a high-speed blender or a household juicer to extract the sugarcane residue.

[0032] Precautions: If the sugarcane is still hard after the first two steps, use a hammer to break up the sugarcane bagasse fibers to facilitate pulping and make the paper surface smoother. When extracting sugarcane, the joints are very hard and the juicer cannot break them up. You need to manually shake the juicer to cut them thoroughly. Do not add too much water when crushing sugarcane bagasse (enough to cover the small pieces of sugarcane), as this will result in insufficient grinding. Do not add no water, as this will overload the machine. According to tests, the optimal ratio of water to sugarcane bagasse is 1:1. It is recommended to crush the sugarcane bagasse at 5000 rpm for 2 minutes.

[0033] Pulp forming: The prepared sugarcane bagasse is placed in clean water with an appropriate amount of water added or subtracted until the bagasse is densely suspended in the water. At this point, fully fermented mealworm excrement is added, along with 10g of plant-based papermaking sizing agent to ensure even distribution of the pulp during papermaking, resulting in a more resilient finished product. After thorough mixing, the paper is made using a sieve with a mesh size of approximately one millimeter, and the moisture is allowed to evaporate.

[0034] Experiment 1: Application Experiment of Paper-based Materials in Seedling Cultivation This experiment set up three planting environments: soil, hydroponics, and paper substrate. The cherry tomato seedling experiment has been carried out for 21 days, and the results are shown in Table 2. Due to differences in the growth cycle, the plant height of cherry tomatoes in soil, hydroponics, and paper substrate environments was 13cm, 15cm, and 7cm, respectively, indicating that they are in the seedling stage. The seedling growth of seedlings cultivated in paper substrate is similar to that of seedlings cultivated in soil and hydroponics. It can be seen that in the seedling stage, planting in paper substrate can provide growth conditions similar to conventional planting methods for seed germination and seedling growth. However, since the growth cycle of cherry tomatoes is about 4 to 6 months, they have high requirements for fertility, and the thickness of paper substrate is limited, which cannot provide the conditions required for the later root growth of cherry tomato plants. Therefore, glass lettuce with a short growth cycle (about 30 days) was added as a supplementary experiment. The results are shown in Table 3. After 5 days of cultivation, there was no significant difference between soil cultivation and hydroponics for lettuce seedlings.

[0035] Group Planting environment crop Germination rate (%) Plant height (cm) 1 soil 10 cherry tomatoes 98.0 13 2 hydroponics 10 cherry tomatoes 96.0 15 3 Paper-based materials 10 cherry tomatoes 88.0 7 Group Planting environment crop Germination rate (%) Plant height (cm) 1 soil 50 heads of lettuce 99.0 3.5 2 hydroponics 50 heads of lettuce 97.0 3.4 3 Paper-based materials 50 heads of lettuce 90.0 3.1 This invention innovatively addresses the global plastic pollution crisis. Its core lies in utilizing the ability of mealworms to biodegrade plastics (such as PE and PS), transforming plastic waste into resources, and ultimately developing a novel paper-based material with direct planting capabilities, thus achieving a closed-loop process "from plastic to new materials."

[0036] The specific embodiments of the present invention described above do not constitute a limitation on the scope of protection of the present invention. Any other corresponding changes and modifications made in accordance with the technical concept of the present invention should be included within the scope of protection of the claims of the present invention.

Claims

1. Application of mealworm excrement in the preparation of paper-based materials for planting containers.

2. A method for preparing a paper-based material for planting containers, characterized in that, Includes the following steps: Step 1: In a strictly controlled rearing environment, feed mealworms in measured amounts of plastic and / or regular feed, and collect mealworm feces; Step 2: Mix the mealworm excrement with water and compost until fully fermented; Step 3: Place sugarcane bagasse in clean water and add or subtract water until the sugarcane bagasse is densely suspended in the water. Then add fully fermented mealworm excrement and plant papermaking glue, stir thoroughly, sieve papermaking, and evaporate the water to obtain the final product.

3. The method for preparing the paper-based material for planting containers according to claim 2, characterized in that, In step 1, the temperature of the rearing environment is 25℃ and the humidity is 60%, and the amount of plastic and / or ordinary feed is 25-35g / 1000 animals per day.

4. The method for preparing the paper-based material for planting containers according to claim 2, characterized in that, In step 1, the plastic is selected from polystyrene (PS) plastic, and the common feed is selected from wheat bran.

5. The method for preparing the paper-based material for planting containers according to claim 2, characterized in that, Step 2 specifically includes the following steps: Step 21: Mix mealworm excrement with water until the mixture becomes muddy. Add EM composting bacteria, squeeze out excess water, sprinkle EM bacteria on the surface, put it in a sealed box and place it in a cool place to ferment. After 2 days, observe that a lot of water vapor is produced on the surface of the fermentation tank and the color of the excrement becomes darker. Stir the excrement thoroughly to allow it to come into contact with oxygen. After steps 22 and 25 days, open the lid and stir again every three days to maintain the surface humidity at 85-95% and the temperature at 22-27℃. After 14 days, the surface of the feces will be dark brown and the inside will be yellowish-brown. The smell will change dramatically. After 21 days, the fermented feces will produce fertilizer liquid, which can be filtered out. Step 23: Once the smell of the mealworm droppings diminishes and the color becomes the same both inside and out, fermentation is complete.

6. The method for preparing the paper-based planting container material according to claim 5, characterized in that, In step 21, the mass ratio of mealworm excrement to water is 5:1, the mass ratio of the first added EM composting fermentation bacteria to mealworm excrement is 1:20, and the mass ratio of the added EM bacteria to mealworm excrement is 1:

100.

7. The method for preparing the paper-based material for planting containers according to claim 2, characterized in that, In step 3, the method for preparing the sugarcane bagasse is as follows: Step 31: After peeling the sugarcane, roughly cut it into small pieces, soak it in water to remove the sugar inside the sugarcane and soften the fibers. Change the water frequently during the process to prevent rotting and insect infestation. Step 32: Place the sugarcane treated in step 31 into boiling water and steam it, then let it cool naturally to room temperature before taking it out. Step 33: Use a high-speed blender or a household juicer to extract the sugarcane pulp.

8. The method for preparing the paper-based material for planting containers according to claim 2, characterized in that, In step 3, the ratio of the wet weight of the added sugarcane bagasse to the mass of the mealworm excrement is 2:1, and the ratio of the added plant papermaking glue to the mass of the mealworm excrement is 1:

50.

9. The method for preparing the paper-based material for planting containers according to claim 2, characterized in that, In step 3, the mesh size of the screen is one millimeter.

10. A paper-based planting container material prepared by the method according to any one of claims 2-9.

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