Yeast treatment methods and compositions

Abstract

To provide a yeast processing method for detaching a layer containing β-glucan of a yeast cell wall from the outer layer and the inner layer, and to provide a yeast processed product and a composition that are obtained by the yeast processing method.SOLUTION: A yeast processing method of the present invention comprises: a mixing step S1; a water adding step S2a; a contact processing step S3; and an ultrasonic processing step S6. In the mixing step S1, a yeast raw material 11 of at least any one of yeast and a yeast component is mixed with siliceous shale 15 to obtain a mixture. In the water adding step S2a, the mixture is caused to contain water. In the contact processing step S3, the water-containing mixture is brought into contact with superheated steam. In the ultrasonic processing step S6, water is added to the mixture that has been subjected to the contact processing step S3, and then the ultrasonic processing is performed.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for treating yeast. , and and compositions. [Background technology]

[0002] Much of the yeast (waste yeast) used in breweries and the like is discarded, and in order to promote its utilization, Patent Document 1, for example, discloses a reducing fertilizer obtained by hydrothermal treatment of a mixture of yeast, yeast extract, or yeast cell walls with phosphoric acid and potassium. Patent Document 2 also discloses a microbially derived reducing mixture for mixing with soil, which contains a superheated steam-treated microbial material obtained by subjecting yeast or yeast components to superheated steam treatment, and yeast or yeast components that have not been subjected to superheated steam treatment. Patent Document 1 describes that the reducing fertilizer further contains diatomaceous earth, and Patent Document 2 similarly describes that the microbially derived reducing mixture for mixing with soil further contains diatomaceous earth.

[0003] Furthermore, β-glucan in yeast cell walls is hydrophobic and known to exhibit human immunostimulatory activity, and various applications are expected depending on the discovery of other effects and functions. β-glucan in yeast cell walls can be obtained industrially by treating yeast cell walls with hypochlorous acid to decompose α-galactomannoprotein, the main component of the outer layer of the yeast cell wall, and then peeling and removing the inner layer inside the layer containing β-glucan by ultrasonic treatment in a reducing solvent. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] International Publication No. 2013 / 094235 [Patent Document 2] International Publication No. 2013 / 084822 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, the methods of Patent Documents 1 and 2 do not sufficiently separate the outer and inner layers of the yeast cell wall from the layer containing β-glucan. Furthermore, when so-called chemical treatment methods using hypochlorous acid or the like are used to reliably separate the outer and inner layers, the three-dimensional structure and hydrophobicity of the β-glucan change due to, for example, decomposition of cross-linked side chains in the layer containing β-glucan.

[0006] Therefore, the present invention provides a yeast treatment method for detaching the layer containing β-glucan from the outer and inner layers of the yeast cell wall, and a yeast product obtained by this yeast treatment method. Composition The purpose is to provide goods and services. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The yeast processing method of the present invention includes a mixing step, a hydration step, a contact treatment step, and an ultrasonic treatment step. The mixing step is performed by mixing a yeast raw material, which is at least one of yeast and yeast components, with siliceous shale. particles of The above steps are mixed to form a mixture. In the water-containing step, the mixture is made to contain water. In the contact treatment step, the water-containing mixture is brought into contact with superheated steam. In the ultrasonic treatment step, water is added to the mixture that has been subjected to the contact treatment step, and then ultrasonic treatment is performed.

[0008] It is preferable to have a forming step of forming the mixture into lumps before the contact treatment step, and to subject the lumpy mixture to the contact treatment step.

[0009] It is preferable to have a freezing treatment step of freezing the mixture before the contact treatment step, and to subject the mixture to the contact treatment step in a frozen state or after being thawed after freezing.

[0011] The composition of the present invention comprises a plurality of first microparticles, a plurality of second microparticles, and a plurality of third microparticles. The first microparticles are composed of β-glucan derived from yeast cell walls. The second microparticles contain α-galactomannoprotein derived from yeast cell walls. The third microparticles are derived from the cell membrane of yeast having yeast cell walls. [Effects of the Invention]

[0012] According to the yeast treatment method of the present invention, the outer layer and the inner layer are detached from the layer containing β-glucan of the yeast cell wall. Composition You get something. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0013] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a flow diagram of an embodiment of a method for treating yeast. [Figure 2] 1 is a safranin-stained optical microscope image of the mixture before application of ultrasound. [Figure 3] 1 is a photograph of an optical microscope image of the mixture stained with methylene blue before application of ultrasound. [Figure 4] 1 is a safranin-stained optical microscope image of a mixture that has undergone an ultrasonic treatment process. [Figure 5] 1 is a methylene blue stained optical microscope image of a mixture that has undergone an ultrasonic treatment process. [Figure 6] 1 is a graph showing the pore distribution curve of the raw material, siliceous shale. [Figure 7] FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of yeast processing equipment. [Figure 8] FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of a contact treatment device. [Figure 9] FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of the arrangement of supply pipes. [Figure 10] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of another embodiment of a contact treatment device. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0014] As shown in FIG. 1 , a yeast processing method according to one embodiment of the present invention processes a yeast raw material 11 to produce a processed yeast product 13. The resulting processed yeast product 13 can be used, for example, as an agricultural material for cultivating agricultural crops. The agricultural material is a composition, such as a growth-promoting composition that improves the yield of agricultural crops. Therefore, this yeast processing method also serves as a method for producing agricultural materials and a method for producing a growth-promoting composition.

[0015] The yeast raw material 11 is at least one of yeast and yeast components. The yeast raw material 11 may be composed of at least one of yeast and yeast components, or may be composed of both. The yeast may be cultured for producing the yeast processed product 13, or may be used yeast that has been used in the production of beer, sake, etc. and then discharged from these production facilities. The yeast component is, for example, yeast cell wall, which is obtained from the residue after extracting yeast extract or by denucleation treatment. Various yeasts, such as brewer's yeast and torula yeast, can be used as the yeast, and may be wet or dried, i.e., so-called dried yeast. Similarly, the yeast components may be wet or dried.

[0016] The yeast processing method includes a mixing step S1, a preliminary step S2, a contacting step S3, and an ultrasonic treatment step S6, in this order. The preliminary step S2 includes a water-imparting step S2a and preferably further includes at least one of a shaping step S2b and a freezing step S2c; in this example, it includes both the shaping step S2b and the freezing step S2c. As shown in FIG. 1, the preliminary step S2 in this example includes a water-imparting step S2a, a shaping step S2b, and a freezing step S2c, in this order. However, the shaping step S2b may be performed in parallel with the water-imparting step S2a, i.e., the water-imparting step S2a and the shaping step S2b may be performed simultaneously.

[0017] In the mixing step S1, the yeast raw material 11 and the siliceous shale 15 are mixed to form a mixture 17. The siliceous shale 15 is mixed with the yeast raw material 11 to facilitate molding in the subsequent molding step S2b and to suppress the Maillard reaction of the yeast raw material 11 under high heat in the contact treatment step S3. In the mixing step S1, the yeast raw material 11 and the siliceous shale 15 may be stirred until they are uniformly mixed. However, they may be mixed uniformly during the preliminary step S2 following the mixing step S1 and / or when the mixture 17 that has been through the preliminary step S2 is subjected to the contact treatment step S3. In such cases, stirring until they are uniform in the mixing step S1 is not necessarily required. In this way, the yeast raw material 11 and the siliceous shale 15 only need to be uniformly mixed by the start of the contact treatment step S3.

[0018] The volume V15 of the siliceous shale 15 mixed with the yeast raw material 11 in the mixing step S1 is not particularly limited. However, when the volume of the yeast raw material 11 is V11, it is preferable to mix the siliceous shale 15 with the yeast raw material 11 with a volume V15 in the range of V11 × 0.1 to V11 × 0.5. The volume V15 of the siliceous shale 15 and the volume V11 of the yeast raw material 11 are so-called apparent volumes, including the volume of intergranular voids. By setting the volume V15 to V11 × 0.1 or more, the moisture content of the mixture 17 can be sufficiently ensured in the subsequent moisture-containing step S2a (the next step in this example). Similarly, when the volume V15 is V11 × 0.5 or less, the moisture content of the mixture 17 is more likely to be higher in the moisture-containing step S2a than when the volume V15 is higher than V11 × 0.5. This is thought to be because the upper limit of the moisture content of the yeast raw material 11 is generally in the range of 1.5 to 1.7, while the upper limit of the moisture content of the siliceous shale 15 is generally 0.39. Therefore, if the volume ratio of the siliceous shale 15 to the yeast raw material 11 is excessively high, such as exceeding a certain amount, the moisture content of the mixture 11 will be suppressed.

[0019] In this example, fine particles of siliceous shale are used as the siliceous shale 15, and the resulting yeast processed product 13 contains extremely small particles. Details of the siliceous shale 15 will be described later.

[0020] The hydration step S2a is intended to ensure delamination in the subsequent contact treatment step S3. Delamination occurs when the layer of β-glucan in the yeast cell wall (hereinafter referred to as the β-glucan layer) is delaminated from the outer layer outside the β-glucan layer and the inner layer inside the β-glucan layer. The hydration step S2a involves hydrating the mixture 17 to obtain a hydrated mixture 17. This ensures that the endothermic reaction in the contact treatment step S3 occurs to the extent that delamination of the yeast cell walls occurs. Furthermore, by subjecting the mixture 17 to the contact treatment step S3 in a hydrated state, particularly when the siliceous shale 15 is hydrated, the Maillard reaction in the yeast raw material 11 is suppressed in the contact treatment step S3. The delamination caused in the contact treatment step S3 peels off layers while maintaining the multilayer structure of the yeast cell wall, and some areas may remain unpeeled. On the other hand, if the mixture 17 is subjected to the contact treatment step S3 without carrying out the water-containing step S2a, the water content is too low to cause the above-mentioned delamination, and the Maillard reaction occurs in the yeast raw material 11. The β-glucan in the yeast cell wall has a three-dimensional helical structure, with hydrophilic (soluble) β-1,6-glucan bound to the main chain of hydrophobic β-1,3-glucan.

[0021] In the moisture-imparting step S2a, the mixture 17 is preferably impregnated with moisture so that the moisture content of the mixture 17 is at least 40%, i.e., 40% or more. This ensures a longer period of time for the endothermic reaction to continue in the subsequent contact treatment step S3. As a result, delamination is more reliable. To further ensure delamination, the moisture-imparting step S2a preferably impregnates the mixture 17 with moisture so that the moisture content is at least 50%, and even more preferably at least 60%. The moisture content (unit: %) is a percentage calculated by {(Wb-Wa) / Wb} x 100, where Wb is the mass of a sample taken from the moisture-imparted mixture 17 and Wa is the mass of a dried sample obtained by drying the sample in a vacuum dryer. In this example, the conditions for sufficiently drying the sample are a drying time of 24 hours in the vacuum dryer and a temperature of 25°C to 35°C.

[0022] The water is not particularly limited, and in this example, water of a purity sufficient for human consumption is used, such as tap water or deionized water, in consideration of the use of the processed yeast product 13 as an agricultural material and various applications such as human immunopotentiation. Other examples of water include distilled water, ion-exchanged water, and RO water purified by a reverse osmosis (RO) membrane.

[0023] In the forming step S2b, the hydrated mixture 17 is formed into lumps. The forming step S2b is performed before the contact treatment step S3. In this example, the lumpy mixture 17 is subjected to the contact treatment step S3. Because the mixture 17 is composed of the yeast raw material 11 and the siliceous shale 15, it is prone to lumping. This forming is performed to prevent the mixture from falling through the mesh of the mesh member 58a (FIG. 8) used in the contact treatment step S3. Therefore, the size of each lump may vary as long as it does not pass through the mesh of the mesh member 58a. In this example, the lumps may be approximately 2 cm to 4 cm in diameter, or approximately 0.5 mm in diameter. Similarly to the size, the shapes are not fixed, and include a mixture of prismatic, cylindrical, and frustum shapes. Furthermore, if the contact treatment step S3 is performed by placing the mixture 17 on a flat surface without mesh like the mesh member 58a, for example, the forming step S2b may not be performed.

[0024] The freezing step S2c is intended to more reliably cause delamination in the contact step S3. In the freezing step S2c, the hydrated mixture 17 is frozen before the contact step S3. The β-glucan layer and the outer and inner layers that make up the yeast cell wall are made of different substances, and therefore require different times for freezing. This more reliably causes delamination in the contact step S3. Note that this effect is achieved through the freezing process, so the mixture 17 may be provided to the contact step S3 in a frozen state or after thawing. In this way, if the mixture 17 is frozen, the mixture 17 in a frozen state or thawed after freezing is provided to the contact step S3.

[0025] In the contact treatment step S3, superheated steam is brought into contact with the water-containing mixture 17. As described above, the water-containing mixture 17 may be one that has not been subjected to the freezing treatment step S2c, one that is frozen, or one that has been frozen and then thawed. This contact treatment step S3 ensures that an endothermic reaction occurs in the water-containing mixture 17, causing delamination of the yeast cell walls. Because the mixture 17 contains water, and the siliceous shale 15 that constitutes the mixture 17 also contains water, the Maillard reaction in the yeast raw material 11 that constitutes the mixture 17 is suppressed even when exposed to high heat in the contact treatment step S3. Details of the contact treatment step S3 will be described later using another drawing.

[0026] In this example, the yeast processing method has the ultrasonic treatment step S6 as the step following the contact treatment step S3, but may also have a drying step (not shown) following the contact treatment step S3, in which the mixture 17 that has been through the contact treatment step S3 is dried. This drying step is preferably carried out after or while the temperature of the mixture 17, which has been heated by the contact treatment step S3, is lowered to room temperature (25°C) to prevent condensation, and a vacuum dryer can be used. Drying in this manner prevents microbial contamination, and the mixture 17 dried through the drying step can be stored for a long period of time. When storing, it is preferable to seal the mixture (e.g., vacuum package).

[0027] The ultrasonic treatment step S6 is a step following the contact treatment step S3, and is intended to detach the outer and inner layers from the β-glucan layer. In the ultrasonic treatment step S6, water is added to the mixture 17 that has been subjected to the contact treatment step S3, to an extent that the mixture 17 is submerged, and then ultrasonic treatment is performed. As a result, the yeast cell walls that were delaminated in the contact treatment step S3 are separated into the outer layer, the β-glucan layer, and the inner layer. In this way, the outer and inner layers are detached from the β-glucan layer. This ultrasonic treatment step S6 produces a composition dispersed in water, which includes a plurality of first microparticles composed of β-glucan derived from yeast cell walls, a plurality of second microparticles containing α-galactomannoprotein derived from the cell walls, a plurality of third microparticles derived from the cell membranes of yeast having yeast cell walls, and a plurality of microparticles of siliceous shale 15. This is the treated yeast product 13 in this example. By evaporating the water, a composition consisting only of solids can be obtained as the processed yeast product 13, which in this case is a powder of fine particles. When evaporating the water, it is preferable to evaporate the water while suppressing temperature rise so as not to reduce the dispersibility of the fine particles, particularly the first fine particles, in water due to their hydrophobicity when water is added again, and for example, a method of drying at room temperature under reduced pressure can be used.

[0028] Detachment can be confirmed by staining. For example, the yeast raw material 11 and the outer layer of the yeast cell wall can be selectively stained with safranin, and the inner layer can be selectively stained with methylene blue. Therefore, the presence or absence of detachment can be confirmed by staining with safranin and methylene blue and observing under an optical microscope. That is, by sampling a solution obtained by adding water to the mixture 17 before applying ultrasound and staining it with safranin, the α-galactomannoprotein that constitutes the outer layer is stained (see Figure 2; the black areas in the image are the stained areas, and are observed as bright red under an optical microscope). Similarly, by sampling and staining with methylene blue, the inner layer and the cytoplasm including the inner layer are stained (see Figure 3; the black areas in the image are the stained areas, and are observed as bright blue under an optical microscope). In contrast, when a sample was taken from the solution obtained in the ultrasonic treatment step S6 and stained with safranin, many unstained microparticles were confirmed (see Figure 4). Similarly, when stained with methylene blue, many unstained microparticles were confirmed (see Figure 5). Furthermore, the microparticles that have undergone the ultrasonic treatment step S6 are larger than the microparticles before ultrasonic treatment (see Figures 2 to 5), which is thought to be because the cell walls are destroyed and swollen by the water. According to this observation method, the first microparticles in the presence of water are observed to have an elliptical shape with a diameter of 2 μm to 5 μm.

[0029] In the above observation, the diameter was 20 μm 2 When the number of unstained particles (number of particles) was taken as the standard, the number of particles confirmed by safranin staining was about three times the standard, which suggests that the outer layer, inner layer, and β-glucan layer had separated. The number of particles confirmed by methylene blue staining was about twice the standard, which suggests that the β-glucan layer and inner layer had separated. The particles resulting from the detachment of the outer and inner layers were 10 μm 2 In the case of the above-mentioned chemical treatment and in the case where the contact treatment step S3 is carried out without carrying out the mixing step S1, the hydration step S2a, and the ultrasonic treatment step S6, the number of individuals exceeding the above-mentioned standard number of individuals is not confirmed even when stained with safranin and methylene blue.

[0030] These observations confirmed that each particle was dispersed, indicating that the β-1,3-glucan constituting the first particles was also present while retaining its hydrophobicity. While ultrasonic treatment using a dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) solution is known as a method for obtaining β-glucan, this method often degrades the terminals of the β-glucan. In contrast, the mixing step S1, the hydration step S2a, the contact treatment step S3, and the ultrasonic treatment step S6 using water, as in this example, suppresses the degradation of the terminals of the β-glucan. The time for applying ultrasonic waves in the ultrasonic treatment step S6 (ultrasonic treatment time) is not particularly limited, and in this example, it is set to a range of 5 to 20 minutes. It has been confirmed that the longer the ultrasonic treatment time, the smaller the diameter of the particles, particularly the first particles. Therefore, the diameter of the particles can be adjusted by increasing or decreasing the ultrasonic treatment time.

[0031] The ultrasonic frequency in the ultrasonic treatment step S6 is preferably at most 30 kHz. By using such low-frequency ultrasonic waves, the β-glucan ends (at least one of the main chain end and the side chain end) are less likely to be oxidized than when ultrasonic waves with frequencies higher than 30 kHz are used, and the β-glucan is treated in a state where its reducing properties are maintained, thereby more reliably maintaining its structure. As a result, β-glucan can be obtained more reliably. The ultrasonic frequency is more preferably at most 28 kHz, and even more preferably in the range of 24 kHz to 28 kHz, and in this example, it is 24 kHz.

[0032] Here, the siliceous shale 15 will be described. In this example, the siliceous shale 15 is a fine particle, which enhances the processing efficiency of the contact treatment step S3 and the ultrasonic treatment step S6. The particle size (the largest diameter of the irregular particles) is not particularly limited. However, considering a wide variety of applications, such as agricultural materials and human immunostimulatory activity, it is preferably at most 2 mm, more preferably in the range of 100 μm to 2 mm, and even more preferably in the range of 0.5 mm to 2 mm. In this example, particles in the range of 0.5 mm to 1 mm are used. If siliceous shale is available only in the form of large chunks (blocks) that cannot be considered fine particles, the yeast processing step may include a crushing step in which the siliceous shale is crushed into granules. The crushing device (not shown) used in the crushing step is not particularly limited as long as it can crush the siliceous shale 15; commercially available crushing devices may be used. Depending on the processing amount (amount to be crushed) of the siliceous shale 15, the target particle size, and other factors, a combination of at least two types of crushers (roller mills, jet mills, high-speed rotary crushers, container-driven mills, etc.) and crushers (jaw crushers, bucket crushers, dilute tri-crusher, cone crushers, double roll crushers, impact crushers, etc.) may be used. For example, an impact-type and biaxial-type crusher manufactured by HORAI CORPORATION may be combined with a high-speed rotary crusher to perform crushing that also adjusts particle size. Mesoporous diatomaceous earth may also be used instead of the siliceous shale 15.

[0033] The pores in siliceous shale 15 are classified by the IUPAC (International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry) as micropores, which are pores with a diameter of 2 nm or less, mesopores, which are pores with a diameter of 2 nm to 50 nm, and macropores, which are pores with a diameter of 50 nm or more. Based on this classification, siliceous shale 15 has all of micropores, mesopores, and macropores, and these all exist together. From the pore distribution curve described below, it can be inferred that mesopores are formed on the inner wall surfaces that define macropores, and that micropores are formed on the inner wall surfaces that define mesopores. Note that mesopores and micropores may exist independently in siliceous shale 15, and some micropores may also be formed on the inner wall surfaces of macropores.

[0034] Siliceous shale may have microorganisms (bacteria, fungi, viruses, etc.) attached to the inner walls that define the pores, and the size of the pores in siliceous shale cannot be measured without taking into account the presence or absence of these attached substances. Therefore, there may be a slight difference between the pore size measurement results for the siliceous shale 15 used as the raw material in this example and the pore size measurement results for the siliceous shale 15 contained in the resulting yeast treatment product 13. However, contact treatment with superheated steam may remove attached microorganisms and other substances, but it does not remove the components of the siliceous shale 15 itself, so the pore size in the porous material component can be considered to be the same as the pore size of the siliceous shale 15 used as the raw material.

[0035] The pore radius of the raw material siliceous shale 15 is at most 10 μm. As shown in FIG. 6, in the pore distribution curve showing the relationship between pore radius and pore volume, the pore radius of the siliceous shale 15 is in the first range of 0 nm to 10 nm, with a maximum of 0.02 cm. 3 The first peak exceeds / g, and the second range is 0.02 cm in the range of 100 nm to 10 μm. 3 / g and a second peak exceeding 1 / g. Therefore, the pore radius of the siliceous shale 15, which is a porous component contained in the yeast treatment product 13, is also at most 10 μm. The pore distribution curve shown in Figure 6 is data for pressure-molded siliceous shale 15, but the Horonobe Geoenvironment Research Institute (public) has reported that pressure molding does not affect the pore distribution consisting of macropores, mesopores, and micropores. The vertical axis of Figure 6 is pore volume, and the horizontal axis is pore radius, which are expressed in logarithmic scale.

[0036] Geographically, siliceous shale is classified as a type of diatomaceous earth, and it is generally known that diatomaceous earth also has pores. Wakkanai siliceous shale and the main diatomaceous earths produced in Japan each have the pore characteristics shown in Table 1. The "average specific surface area of ​​diatomaceous earth" in Table 1 is the average value (av1) of the specific surface area x1 of four types of diatomaceous earth: Akita diatomaceous earth, Ishikawa diatomaceous earth, Okayama diatomaceous earth, and Oita diatomaceous earth. The "ratio of specific surface area to the average diatomaceous earth" is calculated using the formula x1 / av1. The "average pore volume of diatomaceous earth" in Table 1 is the average value (av2) of the pore volume x2 of the four types of diatomaceous earth. The "ratio of pore volume to the average diatomaceous earth" is calculated using the formula x2 / av2. The "average pore radius of diatomite" in Table 1 is the average value of the average pore radius x3 for each of the four types of diatomite (av3). The "ratio of average pore radius to the average diatomite" is calculated using the formula x3 / av3. Table 1 is an excerpt from a report submitted to Horonobe Gravel Co., Ltd. (now Cerea Co., Ltd.) by the Horonobe Geo-Environment Research Institute, a public interest incorporated foundation, after the Horonobe Gravel Co., Ltd. (now Cerea Co., Ltd.) requested the Hokkaido Science and Technology Center (Horonobe Geo-Environment Research Institute) to analyze molded siliceous shale. The hard shale from the Wakkanai Formation in Kamihoronobe, Horonobe Town, has the basic properties shown in Table 2. Table 2 is based on the above-mentioned report from the Horonobe Geo-Environment Research Institute. The "Wakkanai Formation siliceous shale" in Table 1 and the "Kamihoronobe Hard Shale" in Table 2 refer to the hard shale from the Wakkanai Formation in Kamihoronobe, Horonobe Town, and is the siliceous shale 15 used in this example. In this example, siliceous shale from the Wakkanai Formation in Kamihorobe, Horonobe Town, Hokkaido, is used as the siliceous shale 15. However, the siliceous shale used as the raw material is not limited to the siliceous shale 15 of this example, and may be, for example, diatomaceous earth and siliceous shale that do not have the second peak described above, or diatomaceous earth and siliceous shale that have a peak in the first range of pore radii greater than 0 nm and less than 10 nm, but the peak is less than 0.02 cm.3 Diatomaceous earth and siliceous shale having a pore size less than 1 / g may also be used.

[0037] [Table 1]

[0038] [Table 2]

[0039] Although the siliceous shale 15 is not particularly limited, it is preferable to use the Wakkanai Formation siliceous shale mentioned above because it has the above-mentioned pores. The physical properties of the siliceous shale 15 used in this example are shown in Table 3. The physical property values ​​shown in Table 3 are a summary of the results of analysis by the Hokkaido Industrial Research Institute and the Hokkaido Central Agricultural Experiment Station (now part of the Hokkaido Research Organization, a local independent administrative institution).

[0040] The "water absorption rate" in Table 3 is the result of analysis conducted at the Hokkaido Industrial Research Institute. The analysis method involved drying the sample, allowing it to absorb water for 24 hours, removing the surface moisture, and then measuring the sample's weight. The sample was then dried for 8 hours in a dryer set at 150°C, and the weight of the dried sample was measured. The water absorption rate was calculated from the weight before and after drying. There were two types of samples: one with a particle size of 1 mm and one with a particle size of 8 mm. The water absorption rate for the 1 mm particle size was the average value of the water absorption rate of two samples, and the water absorption rate for the 8 mm particle size was the average value of the water absorption rate of four samples.

[0041] The "moisture absorption rate" in Table 3 is the result of analysis conducted by the Hokkaido Prefectural Industrial Research Institute (Industrial Research Institute Result No. 193123). The test method involved precisely weighing 1g of bone-dry sample into a weighing bottle, placing it in a constant temperature, constant humidity chamber at a constant temperature of 25°C, and changing the humidity between 90% RH and 50% RH every 24 hours. The mass of the sample in each atmosphere was measured, and the moisture absorption rate was calculated using the following formula. Moisture absorption rate (%) = 100 x moisture absorption amount / absolute dry mass

[0042] The "base exchange capacity" in Table 3 is the result of analysis conducted by the Hokkaido Central Agricultural Experiment Station (No. 1-42). The analytical method is based on "Diagnostic Criteria for Soil and Crop Nutrition - Analytical Method (Revised Edition)" (Hokkaido Agriculture Department, Hokkaido Central Agricultural Experiment Station, 1992). This analytical method (soil analysis method) uses ammonium acetate extraction - Schöllenberger method - formol titration.

[0043] The "available moisture content" in Table 3 is the result of analysis conducted by the Hokkaido Central Agricultural Experiment Station (Chuo No Kanpo No. 1-37). The analytical method is based on the "Diagnostic Criteria for Soil and Crop Nutrition - Analytical Method (Revised Edition)" (Hokkaido Prefectural Agriculture Department, Hokkaido Central Agricultural Experiment Station, 1992). In this analytical method (soil analysis method), the actual sample was placed in a 100 ml soil sampling tube, saturated with water, and then the gas phase was measured using a three-phase meter. Subsequently, measurements were made at the pF3 stage using the centrifuge method. Finally, the soil was thermally dried at 105°C, and the moisture content was measured. The moisture content at pF0 was calculated by adding the moisture content at saturated water level and the proportion of the gas phase.

[0044] [Table 3]

[0045] The processed yeast product 13 can be obtained, for example, by a yeast processing facility (hereinafter simply referred to as "processing facility") 31 shown in Figure 7. The processing facility 31 processes the yeast raw material 11 to obtain the processed yeast product 13, and is also a manufacturing facility for agricultural materials and a manufacturing facility for a growth-promoting composition.

[0046] The processing equipment 31 includes a mixing and hydrating device 32, a superheated steam contact treatment device (hereinafter simply referred to as "contact treatment device") 33, and an ultrasonic treatment device 34. When performing the forming step S2b and the freezing step S2c as in this example, the processing equipment 31 includes a forming and freezing device 35.

[0047] The mixing and moisture-imparting device 32 is used for the mixing step S1 and the moisture-imparting step S2a, and mixes the yeast raw material 11 with siliceous shale 15 to form a mixture 17, and then impregnates this mixture 17 with water 36. Instead of the mixing and moisture-imparting device 32, a moisture-imparting device (not shown) for the moisture-imparting step S2a and a mixing device (not shown) for the mixing step S1 may be used.

[0048] The mixing and hydration device 32 includes a container (not shown) for containing the yeast raw material 11, water 36, and siliceous shale 15, and an agitator (not shown) for agitating the contents contained in the container. The agitator includes, for example, an agitator blade (not shown) disposed within the container, a rod-shaped support member (not shown) fixed to the circumferential surface of the agitator blade to support the agitator blade, and a drive unit (not shown) for rotating the support member circumferentially to rotate the agitator blade within the container. The mixing and hydration device 32 performs the mixing step S1 by, for example, placing the yeast raw material 11 and the siliceous shale 15 in the container of the mixing and hydration device 32 and agitating them with the agitator blade to produce a mixture 17. The hydration step S2a is performed by adding water 36 to the mixture 17 and leaving it to stand for, for example, 24 hours, allowing the mixture 17, particularly the siliceous shale 15, to sufficiently retain (absorb) water. It is preferable to add enough water 36 to the container to completely cover the mixture 17. If a portion of the water 36 placed in the container in the water-containing step S2a remains without being retained in the mixture 17, it may be discharged from the container, or if the remaining moisture is sufficient to allow the mixture to be molded in the molding step S2b, it may be directly subjected to the molding step S2b without being discharged. By retaining water in the siliceous shale 15, oxidation of the siliceous shale 15 during the contact treatment in the contact treatment step S3 is suppressed, and the siliceous shale 15 becomes a reducible siliceous shale that exhibits a reduced redox potential that is lower than when it was subjected to the mixing step S1.

[0049] The molding / freezing device 35 includes a formwork material (not shown) having a plurality of depressions formed to represent the shapes of the mass to be molded, and a freezer (not shown) that houses the formwork material and is equipped with a temperature control mechanism (not shown). The formwork material is formed in a tray shape, and the water-containing mixture 17 is placed in each depression, causing the depressions to function as a mold for the mass of the mixture 17. In this manner, the molding step S2b is performed. The molding step S2b can also be performed using a commercially available kneading extruder. In the kneading extruder, the water-containing mixture 17 can be kneaded and extruded from the extrusion tip to a diameter of, for example, 5 mm, and then cut into lengths of approximately 5 mm to form a cylindrical shape. The freezer houses the formwork material with the mixture 17 placed in it. The freezer is adjusted by a temperature control mechanism to a temperature in the negative range, such as -5°C, at which the mixture 17 freezes. The mixture 17 is then placed in the freezer and frozen. In this manner, the freezing treatment step S2c is performed.

[0050] When the moisture-containing step S2a and the molding step S2b are carried out in parallel, a commercially available pan granulator may be used, for example. As the pan granulator, a wet pan granulator that performs wet granulation is used.

[0051] The contact treatment device 33 is for the contact treatment step S3. Either a batch-type contact treatment device or a continuous-type contact treatment device can be used as the contact treatment device, and the contact treatment device 33 is of the batch type. The contact treatment device 33 is composed of a contact treatment section 37, a superheated steam supply section 38, and the like. The superheated steam supply section 38 is for supplying superheated steam to the contact treatment section 37 and is connected to the contact treatment section 37. The contact treatment section 37 brings the superheated steam supplied by the superheated steam supply section 38 into contact with the mixture 17 containing water 36, thereby raising the temperature of the mixture 17. This causes delamination of the yeast cell walls of the yeast raw material 11 contained in the mixture 17, and reduces the redox potential of the siliceous shale 15.

[0052] The superheated steam supply unit 38 is provided in the contact treatment device 33, but the superheated steam supply unit 38 may be an external device provided outside the contact treatment device 33 as long as it is connected to the contact treatment unit 37. Details of the contact treatment device 33 will be described later using another drawing.

[0053] The ultrasonic treatment device 34 includes a container (not shown) for containing the mixture 17 that has undergone the contact treatment step S3, a plurality of ultrasonic oscillators (not shown) provided in the container, and a control unit (not shown) that causes the ultrasonic oscillators to emit ultrasonic waves at a predetermined frequency to subject the contents of the container to ultrasonic treatment. In the ultrasonic treatment step S6, water 36 and the mixture 17 that has undergone the contact treatment step S3 are placed in a container of the ultrasonic treatment device 34, and ultrasonic waves are emitted to subject the contents of the container to ultrasonic treatment. A commercially available ultrasonic treatment device 34 may be used, and in this example, a commercially available product (CGOLDENWALL Ultrasonic NBK ultrasonic homogenizer, 16 mm probe (24 kHz)) is used.

[0054] The contact treatment device 33 will be described with reference to FIG. 8. The superheated steam supply unit 38 is an example of an apparatus that performs the contact treatment step S3 (see FIG. 1). The contact treatment device 33 includes a steam generation unit 51 that generates superheated steam 23 from liquid water, a valve 52, and a controller 53 that controls the steam generation unit 51 and the valve 52. Liquid water is supplied to the steam generation unit 51, and the amount of superheated steam 23 generated and the temperature of the superheated steam 23 are adjusted under the control of the controller 53. The opening degree (including opening and closing) of the valve 52 is controlled by the controller 53, thereby adjusting the flow rate (supply flow rate) of the superheated steam 23 supplied to the contact treatment unit 37. Note that the flow rate of the superheated steam supplied to the contact treatment unit 37 may be adjusted by maintaining the valve 52 at a constant opening degree, for example, fully open, and adjusting the generation rate of the superheated steam 23 in the steam generation unit 51.

[0055] The contact treatment unit 37 includes a treatment unit main body 56 and a support base 57 that supports the treatment unit main body 56. The treatment unit main body 56 includes three mounting devices 58A-58C on which the mixture 17 is placed, a plate-shaped support member 61 that supports the mounting devices 58A-58C, and a supply pipe 62 that supplies superheated steam 23 to the mounting devices 58A-58C. The three mounting devices 58A-58C are arranged at intervals in the vertical direction, i.e., the top-bottom direction, and are designated by the reference numerals 58A, 58B, and 58C from bottom to top. In the following description, when the mounting devices 58A-58C are not to be distinguished, they will be referred to as mounting devices 58. When multiple mounting devices 58 are arranged, it is preferable to install them at intervals in the vertical direction, as in this example. The number of mounting devices 58 is not limited and may be determined depending on factors such as the amount of mixture 17 to be subjected to the contact treatment step S3.

[0056] A pair of support members 61 are provided to support the mounting device 58. In this example, the support members 61 are provided on the support base 57 in order to position the supply pipe 62 so that the outlet 62о for the superheated steam 23, which is the tip opening of the supply pipe 62, is located below the mounting device 58A. The support members 61 are fixed to the support base 57 in an upright position, and protrusions 61a for supporting the mounting device 58 are formed on the opposing walls of the pair of support members 61. The protrusions 61a of the pair of support members 61 are set to the same height, and the mounting device 58 is supported in a state where it is floating above the floor surface while maintaining its posture. The shape of the protrusions 61a is not particularly limited, and in this example, they are formed to extend horizontally, and the mounting device 58 slides along the protrusions 61a, making it detachable from the support members 61. The direction in which the pair of support members 61 face each other is defined as the X direction.

[0057] The mounting device 58 is formed in a box shape with an open top and includes a mesh member 58a and a frame 58b that supports the mesh member 58a under tension. The mounting device 58 has external dimensions of 60 cm × 40 cm × 8 cm high, but the size of the mounting device 58 is not particularly limited. The frame 58b is in an upright position at an angle to the mesh member 58a, which allows it to be supported by the protrusions 61a and prevents the placed mixture 17 from falling off the mounting device 58. However, since the mixture 17 is less likely to fall when a small amount of mixture 17 is placed on it, a horizontally flat frame similar to the mesh member 58a may be used instead of the frame 58b, depending on the possibility of it falling.

[0058] The mesh member 58a holds the mixture 17 and guides the superheated steam 23 from below to the mixture 17. The mesh member 58a has a plurality of meshes as through-holes penetrating in the thickness direction, and each of these meshes allows the superheated steam 23 to pass through. In this example, the superheated steam 23 is delivered from the delivery port 62o of the supply pipe 62 toward the lower surface of the mounting device 58A, as will be described later, and is guided to the upper surface side of the mounting device 58 by the meshes of the mesh member 58a. As a result, the superheated steam 23 comes into contact with the mixture 17 on the mesh member 58a. In this way, the mounting device 58 functions as a support member that supports the mixture 17 while the superheated steam 23 is being brought into contact with it, and the meshes function as a guide path that guides the delivered superheated steam 23 to the mixture 17. Note that although the mesh member 58a is rectangular, it may have a shape other than a rectangle, for example, a circle.

[0059] The mesh member 58a is, for example, a net made of metal, and the frame 58b is also made of metal. There are no particular limitations on the metal as long as it can maintain its shape without dissolving when in contact with the superheated steam 23. In this example, the material of the mesh member 58a and the frame 58b is stainless steel. Since the mesh member 58a functions as a support member for supporting the mixture 17, the mesh size is set to prevent the mixture 17 from passing through. If the mixture 17 does pass through, multiple mesh members 58a may be stacked in the thickness direction with the mesh sizes offset from each other, forming mesh sizes smaller than the mesh sizes of the multiple mesh members 58a. The mesh members 58a are set to a size that prevents the mixture 17 from passing through.

[0060] The mesh member 58a is an example of a porous member, and the porous member is not limited to the mesh member 58a. For example, a porous plate obtained by forming a plurality of holes in a metal plate by, for example, punching may be used. Furthermore, a plurality of porous plates may be stacked in the thickness direction, or a porous plate and the mesh member 58a may be stacked in the thickness direction.

[0061] The supply pipe 62 is connected to the superheated steam supply unit 38, and is arranged so that the outlet 62о faces the lower surface of the mounting device 58. When a plurality of mounting devices 58 are provided as in this example, the supply pipe 62 may be installed below each of the plurality of mounting devices 58, with the outlet 62о facing the lower surface of each. However, since the superheated steam 23 flows upward when it is discharged from the outlet 62о, even if the supply pipe 62 is arranged only on the lowest mounting device 38A of the plurality of mounting devices 58, it is sufficient because the superheated steam 23 is guided to the mixture 17 on all of the mounting devices 58A to 58C.

[0062] In this example, two supply pipes 62 are provided below each of the pair of support members 61 so as to face each other in one of two directions intersecting on a horizontal plane, and each outlet 62о is located more inward than the support members 61 in the X direction (see FIG. 9 ). As a result, the superheated steam 23 emitted from the outlet 62о is guided upward between the pair of support members 61 by the plate-shaped support members 61. Therefore, the superheated steam 23 is guided and contacts the mixture 17 placed on the mounting devices 58A to 58C, and the delivered superheated steam 23 is used without waste in contact with the mixture 17. Furthermore, with this configuration, the superheated steam is supplied from below upward, so that the temperature in the treatment space is likely to be uniform even for mixture 17 containing a large amount of water, and the mixture 17 is subjected to a more uniform contact treatment.

[0063] When the mixture 17 is brought into contact with the superheated steam 23, the mixture 17 is heated to the center of each grain, and the liquid water 36 (see FIG. 7) contained in the mixture 17 turns into gaseous water, i.e., steam. When the mixture 17 containing the water 36 is brought into contact with the superheated steam 23, delamination occurs in the yeast cell walls of the yeast raw material 11.

[0064] The temperature of the processing space is more preferably in the range of 160°C to 300°C, even more preferably in the range of 170°C to 250°C, and particularly preferably in the range of 180°C to 230°C. The temperature of the processing space may be determined by detecting the temperature around the mounting table 58, and this detected temperature may be regarded as the temperature of the processing space. The temperature around the mounting table 58 can be detected, for example, by providing a temperature sensor (not shown) on the wall surface of the support member 61 on the side where the mounting tool 58 is installed.

[0065] The maximum flow rate of the superheated steam 23 generated in the steam generator 51 varies depending on the temperature of the superheated steam 23, and the degree of this change differs depending on the steam generator 51 used. For example, there is a steam generator 51 in which the flow rate increases by 1.5 times when the temperature of the superheated steam 23 drops by 100°C. In addition, flow rate adjustment has poor reproducibility. For this reason, the temperature of the superheated steam 23 and the amount of liquid water used to generate the superheated steam 23 are kept constant.

[0066] The temperature of the supplied superheated steam 23 depends not only on the temperature of the steam adjusted in the steam generator 51 but also on the flow rate adjusted by controlling the aperture of the valve 52. Therefore, it is preferable to more precisely control the temperature of the superheated steam 23 by controlling the aperture of the valve 52, as is done in this embodiment. Specifically, the aperture of the valve 52 may be adjusted by the controller 53 based on the detection result of the aforementioned temperature sensor (not shown) provided on the support member 61, for example. To increase the temperature of the superheated steam 23, the aperture of the valve 52 is adjusted to be smaller, and to decrease the temperature, the aperture is adjusted to be larger. The temperature of the superheated steam 23 may decrease between when it is generated in the steam generator 51 and when it reaches the mounting device 58. In such a case, the temperature of the superheated steam delivered from the steam generator 51 may be adjusted by the steam generator 51, taking into account the decrease in temperature.

[0067] In order to further improve the efficiency of the contact treatment by contact with the superheated steam 23 and to further promote delamination of the yeast raw material 11 contained in the mixture 17, it is preferable to make the distance between the discharge port 62о and the lowest mounting device 58A as small as possible.

[0068] The plate-like support member 61 may be, for example, a columnar (rod-like) member in an upright position from the viewpoint of supporting the mounting device 58. In the case of such a columnar support member or when the support member 61 of this example is used, the support members are open, so the contact treatment space in which the superheated steam 23 and the mixture 17 are contacted is an open system. The contact treatment space may also be a closed system separated from the external space. In a closed system, for example, a box-shaped partition member may be used to surround the mounting device 58 and separate the contact treatment space from the external space. The bottom surface of this partition member may be open to allow the introduction of superheated steam 23. The top surface of this partition member may be closed, but to promote the discharge of water vapor resulting from evaporation of water 36, an opening may be provided in the top surface of the partition member, allowing the water vapor to be naturally discharged through this opening, or a suction mechanism for sucking gas into this opening may be provided to suck the water vapor. The supply pipe 62 may be located above the uppermost mounting device 58C of the mounting devices 58. However, from the viewpoint of more effectively discharging the water contained in the mixture 17 to the outside of the processing space when it evaporates, it is preferable that the supply pipe 62 be disposed below the mounting tool 58A.

[0069] The time for which the superheated steam 23 is in contact with the mixture 17, i.e., the time for the contact treatment step S3, is not particularly limited, but is preferably at least 10 minutes. This allows for more efficient delamination. The time for the contact treatment step S3 is more preferably at least 15 minutes.

[0070] Treatment facility 31 is equipped with the above-mentioned batch-type contact treatment device 33, but may also be equipped with a continuous contact treatment device instead of contact treatment device 33. In Fig. 10, continuous contact treatment device 85 is not particularly limited as long as it can bring superheated steam into contact with mixture 17, which is the treatment target. Contact treatment device 85 is a conveyor-type contact treatment device equipped with a transport section 86 that transports mixture 17 and a contact treatment section 87 that brings superheated steam 23 (see Fig. 8) into contact with mixture 17 during transport.

[0071] The conveying unit 86 includes a long, annular belt-shaped conveying belt 90 on which the mixture 17 is placed, a hopper 91 that supplies the mixture 17 to the conveying belt 90 from above, and a plurality of rollers 92a-92i that support the conveying belt 90 and form a conveying path, at least one of which is a drive roller having a motor 93. In FIG. 10, the upstream-most roller 92a and the downstream-most roller 92i in the conveying direction of the mixture 17 (hereinafter simply referred to as the conveying direction) are depicted as drive rollers. The conveying unit 86 further includes a drive controller 94 that rotates the drive roller in the circumferential direction using the motor 93, a collection container 96, and the like. By rotating the drive roller using the drive controller 94, the annular conveying belt 90, which is in contact with the circumferential surface of the drive roller, travels in a circular motion. As a result, the mixture 17 placed on the conveying belt 90 from the hopper 91, is conveyed and collected in a collection container 96 provided below one end of the conveying belt 90's travel path.

[0072] The conveyor belt 90 is a long, annular mesh member 58a (see FIG. 8). The contact treatment section 87 is provided to form a treatment space above the conveyor belt 90, in which the superheated steam 23 is brought into contact with the mixture 17. In this example, a pair of support members 61 in the contact treatment section 37 are provided in an upright position on both ends of the width direction of the conveyor belt 90 to form the treatment space. The support members 61 in this example are intended to separate the treatment space from the external space. The length L61 of the support members 61 in the conveying direction may be set appropriately depending on the length of the conveying path, the conveying speed, etc. Furthermore, a top plate may be provided above the pair of support members 61 to form a tunnel-like treatment space.

[0073] A pair of supply pipes 62 for supplying superheated steam 23 to the treatment space are provided below the conveyor belt 90 and on both sides of the conveyor belt 90 in the width direction. As in the contact treatment section 37, the supply pipe 62 below the support member 61 is arranged in an upwardly inclined position so that an outlet 62о (see FIG. 8) for discharging superheated steam 23 faces the underside of the conveyor belt 90 on which the mixture 17 is placed. This allows the superheated steam 23 emitted from the outlet 62о to pass through the mesh of the conveyor belt 90 and come into contact with the mixture 17 on the conveyor belt 90. In this way, the treatment space is formed on the conveyor belt. In this example, there is one supply pipe 62 in the conveying direction, but there may be two or more.

[0074] In this example, the temperature of the superheated steam 23, the amount of superheated steam 23 generated per hour, and the temperature at the discharge port 62о are fixed. However, the temperature at the outlet of the treatment space (the downstream end of the support member 61 in the conveying direction) varies depending on the moisture content of the mixture 17. The inlet temperature is preferably at least 160°C, i.e., 160°C or higher. From the viewpoint of the treatment efficiency of the mixture 17, the temperature is more preferably in the range of 160°C to 300°C, even more preferably in the range of 170°C to 250°C, and particularly preferably in the range of 180°C to 230°C. If the outlet temperature cannot be detected, a temperature sensor (not shown) may be installed on the top of the conveyor belt 90 or on the inner surface of the support member 61 in the width direction of the conveyor belt 90 to detect the temperature around the conveyor belt 90, and this detected temperature may be regarded as the outlet temperature. It is desirable to install temperature sensors both at the discharge port 62о and at the outlet.

[0075] The temperature of the superheated steam 23 and the amount of liquid water required to generate the superheated steam 23 are kept constant. Under these constant conditions, the outlet temperature changes depending on the moisture content of the mixture 17. Using the change in the outlet temperature as an indicator, the outlet temperature decreases after treatment begins and then eventually rises. Until this rise begins, delamination mainly progresses. From the time the outlet temperature starts to rise until it reaches approximately the inlet temperature, the mixture 17 is dried and partially roasted (reduction roasting, in which the component siliceous shale is reduced). For the decomposition of organic matter, it is more preferable to set the conveying speed of the conveyor belt 90, etc., taking into consideration the temperature of the discharge port 62о, the contact treatment with the superheated steam 23 at a high moisture content, and the timing of removal depending on the change in the outlet temperature.

[0076] The above configuration efficiently and effectively achieves delamination and detachment of the outer and inner layers from the β-glucan layer. Furthermore, when the resulting yeast-processed product 13 is obtained as an aqueous dispersion (suspension) with a concentration greater than 0% and less than or equal to 10%, or when it is dried and then water is added to obtain an aqueous dispersion (suspension) of the same concentration, no aggregation is observed even when further water is added. Specifically, it has been confirmed that no aggregation is observed up to a 1000-fold dilution, and the Tyndall effect has been confirmed when the 10% aqueous dispersion of the yeast-processed product 13 is diluted 1000-fold. This indicates that the hydrophobicity of β-glucan is maintained, and the yeast-processed product 13 has extremely high dispersibility. Therefore, the yeast-processed product 13 has the ability to permeate plant cell membranes, which requires moderate hydrophobicity and microdispersibility that allows extremely fine particles to disperse in water. Furthermore, it is expected to pass through the gaps between human intestinal cells, which are approximately 5 μm in size. Therefore, it is useful as an agricultural material such as a growth-promoting composition, and the possibility of expanding into various applications such as human immunostimulatory activity is widened.

[0077] [Evaluation experiment 1] Using the above method, a dispersion of fine particles dispersed in water was produced as processed yeast product 13. The yeast raw material 11 was yeast cell walls of commercially available Japanese brewer's yeast. This processed yeast product 13 was evaluated as an agricultural material. Specifically, processed yeast product 13 was used as a foliar spray to be sprayed on the leaves of agricultural crops, and its evaluation as a crop growth-promoting composition was carried out as follows.

[0078] First, a foliar spray sample containing the yeast treatment product 13 containing water and fine particles was prepared based on the certified ingredient label of a commercially available liquid fertilizer (hereinafter referred to as "liquid fertilizer"). The prepared foliar spray sample (hereinafter referred to as "foliar spray sample 1") was applied to the following crops, and the growth status of the crops was evaluated in comparison with the control experiment described below. The commercially available liquid fertilizer was a liquid trace element complex fertilizer conforming to the official specifications, containing trace elements (components) added, boron (B) and manganese (Mn) (hereinafter referred to as "BM-type liquid fertilizer"), "Night Soil BM (B:Mn = 0.4:0.5)" (manufactured by Cerea Co., Ltd.). This commercially available liquid fertilizer had a boron to manganese ratio of B:Mn = 0.4:0.5 (unit: % of the liquid fertilizer), and the same was done for the prepared foliar spray sample 1.

[0079] 1. Strawberries The strawberries were isolated by seedlings and cultivated in elevated beds. Elevated bed cultivation is a method of cultivating strawberries in a field at waist height, for example, to facilitate cultivation and harvesting, and is widely used for this purpose. After application of foliar spray Sample 1, growth of the aboveground parts was inhibited. However, compared to the control experiment described below, the harvest period during which fruit could be harvested was longer, resulting in a higher and better yield than the control experiment. In addition to evaluating the growth state, the absorption on the leaf surface and the permeability through the cell membrane of the cells of the plant body were evaluated as follows. (a) Leaf absorption A diluted solution was made by diluting foliar spray sample 1 with water 20 times, and this diluted solution was applied dropwise to the true leaves of strawberries. Visual observation showed that the absorption by the leaves was faster than in control experiment 1, and the diluted solution was absorbed into the true leaves within 30 minutes, with no residue observed. (b) Permeability in the cell membrane A 2000x dilution of Sample 1 for foliar spray was added as a wetting agent to a commercially available 2000x dilution of a systemic fungicide, which does not cause phytotoxicity when used alone, and sprayed onto the true leaves of strawberries. The instructions for the systemic fungicide recommended its use alone, as phytotoxicity can occur with the use of a wetting agent, and listed strawberries as a highly sensitive crop. Visual inspection of the true leaves after spraying confirmed clear phytotoxicity symptoms with the 2000x dilution, confirming its cell membrane permeability.

[0080] 2. Onion (variety: Sonic) The above-mentioned early-maturing onion varieties were planted in Hyogo Prefecture in 2021 and harvested before the rainy season. A drought occurred during cultivation from March, but compared to control experiment 1, the growth of standing roots was greatly promoted, and the harvest after the drought was extremely good, with a yield of 120% compared to control experiment 1 (total bulb weight of 45 plants was 7.63 kg). The large number of thick roots and their growth indicated that this method is effective in dealing with drought.

[0081] 3. Eggplant (variety: Chikuyo) The evaluation was conducted from 2020 to 2021 at a greenhouse cultivation field in Kamimashiki County, Kumamoto Prefecture. Specifically, foliar spray sample 1 was diluted 1000 times to prepare a diluted solution, which was then sprayed on the stems and leaves. There was no occurrence of black blight, and stable harvesting was achieved between September 2020 and early July 2021. The results were obtained on an area of ​​10 a (ares, 10 a = 1000 m). 2 The yield was 29t (tons) per 1000mt.

[0082] 4. Zucchini The evaluation was carried out in a greenhouse cultivation field in Sanbu District, Chiba Prefecture. By spraying the stems and leaves at the seedling stage, the effect on the roots as well as the leaves was evaluated. Although wilting was observed immediately after spraying, it recovered by the next morning and growth thereafter was extremely good, resulting in a yield of approximately 120% compared to control experiment 1. The stems were enlarged and the taste was extremely good.

[0083] 5. Sweet potato The evaluation was conducted in Hyogo Prefecture in 2021. The product was sprayed on the stems and leaves 30 days before the planned harvest. 2021 was a year of poor harvest nationwide due to drought after the bulb growth stage, but in this evaluation experiment, the tuberous root mass per plant was 0.89 kg, and the yield was significantly higher than in control experiment 1.

[0084] 6. Rice The average harvest yield was approximately 533 kg of polished rice per 10a.

[0085] [Comparative Experiment 1] The yeast-treated product was produced using a production method that did not include the mixing step S1 and the preliminary step S2. That is, this yeast-treated product did not contain siliceous shale 15 and did not undergo the hydration step S2a. The other conditions were the same as in evaluation experiment 1, and the results are as follows.

[0086] 1. Strawberries Compared to control experiment 1, the growth of the aboveground parts was slightly suppressed, but the yield was almost the same as control experiment 1. As in Evaluation Experiment 1, the absorption on the leaf surface and the permeability in the cell membrane of the plant cells were evaluated. (a) Leaf absorption Although the absorption on the leaves was slow, most of the solution was absorbed within 30 minutes after application, but Maillard reaction products remained on the leaves at the site of application. (b) Permeability in the cell membrane Instead of foliar spray sample 1 in evaluation experiment 1, a foliar spray sample using the above yeast treatment was prepared (hereinafter referred to as comparative foliar spray sample 1), and this comparative foliar spray sample 1 was diluted 2000 times to prepare a diluted solution which was used as a spreading agent. The other conditions were the same as in evaluation experiment 1. Visual inspection of the leaves after spraying revealed no signs of phytotoxicity, and the evaluation results showed that the permeability to the cell membrane was lower than that of foliar spray sample 1.

[0087] 2. Onion (variety: Sonic) Although the upright roots were elongated compared to control experiment 1, the yield (tuber yield) was about 80% of that in control experiment 1 (5.55 kg).

[0088] 3. Eggplant (variety: Chikuyo) There was no incidence of black blight and no decline in tree vigor was observed, but the yield per 10a was 22t, roughly the same as in control experiment 1.

[0089] 4. Zucchini The yield and quality were comparable to those of control experiment 1.

[0090] 5. Sweet potato The amount of tuberous roots per plant increased compared to control experiment 1 but decreased compared to foliar spray sample 1.

[0091] 6. Rice The yield was only slightly higher than in control experiment 1.

[0092] [Control experiment 1] The above-mentioned commercially available liquid fertilizer (BM type liquid fertilizer) was used for cultivation. The other conditions were the same as in evaluation experiment 1. 1. Strawberries The above-mentioned commercially available liquid fertilizer was used instead of foliar spray sample 1 in evaluation experiment 1. Other conditions were the same as in evaluation experiment 1. The yield was 101% compared to the previous year (2020). This year-on-year comparison is a value when the previous year's yield is set at 100. As in Evaluation Experiment 1, the absorption on the leaf surface and the permeability in the cell membrane of the plant cells were evaluated. (a) Leaf absorption The absorption on the leaves was very slow, and Maillard reaction products remained at the drop area on the leaves. (b) Permeability in the cell membrane Instead of foliar spray sample 1 in evaluation experiment 1, the above-mentioned commercially available liquid fertilizer was used, and a 2000-fold diluted solution was prepared as a spreading agent. Other conditions were the same as in evaluation experiment 1. Visual inspection of the true leaves after spraying revealed no signs of phytotoxicity, and the evaluation results showed that cell membrane permeability was lower than that of foliar spray sample 1.

[0093] 2. Onion (variety: Sonic) The number of erect roots was smaller and the elongation was also inferior than in Comparative Experiment 1. The total bulb weight of the 45 plants was 6.20 kg.

[0094] 3. Eggplant (variety: Chikuyo) The tree vigor continued to decline from the peak harvest season, and black blight disease occurred at one point. The yield per 10a was 23t.

[0095] 4. Zucchini The yield was 97% compared to the previous year (2020).

[0096] 5. Sweet potato Although the harvest was successful, it was about 20% less than the previous year.

[0097] 6. Rice The average harvest yield was approximately 348 kg of polished rice per 10 a.

[0098] [Evaluation experiment 2] A foliar spray sample containing the same yeast treatment product 13 as used in Evaluation Experiment 1 was prepared based on the certified ingredient label of a commercially available liquid compound fertilizer containing added phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) (hereafter referred to as phosphorus-potassium liquid compound fertilizer). The preparation was foliar sprayed on the following crops. Other conditions were the same as those in Evaluation Experiment 1. The prepared foliar spray sample was designated Foliar Spray Sample 2. The phosphorus-potassium liquid compound fertilizer was a home gardening compound fertilizer called "Neo-S Plus (N:P:K = 0.5:5:4)" (manufactured by STRAW Co., Ltd.). This phosphorus-potassium liquid compound fertilizer had a nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) ratio of N:P:K = 0.5:5:4 (unit: % of the fertilizer), so the same procedure was used for the prepared foliar spray sample 2.

[0099] (1) Strawberries The harvest period was longer than in control experiment 2, and the increased yield was due to the longer extension period. (a) Leaf absorption Absorption was faster than in control experiment 2, and the diluted solution was absorbed into the leaves within 30 minutes, with no residue remaining. (b) Permeability in the cell membrane Clear symptoms of phytotoxicity were observed at a 2000-fold dilution, and the evaluation results indicated that the compound had cell membrane permeability.

[0100] 2. Onion (variety: Sonic) Compared to control experiment 2, the number and elongation of standing roots were significantly promoted, and the total bulb weight of 45 plants increased by approximately 20% compared to control experiment 2.

[0101] 3. Eggplant (variety: Chikuyo) There was no incidence of black blight and no decline in tree vigor was observed. Yields increased by approximately 20% compared to control experiment 2.

[0102] 4. Zucchini The yield was about 10% higher than in control experiment 2, and the taste was also better than in control experiment 2.

[0103] 5. Sweet potato The amount of tuberous roots per plant was 1.2 kg, which was more than in the control experiment 2.

[0104] 6. Rice The average milled rice weight per 10a was 550kg, significantly higher than in control experiment 2.

[0105] [Comparative Experiment 2] The yeast-treated product was produced using a production method that did not include the mixing step S1 and the preliminary step S2. That is, this yeast-treated product did not contain siliceous shale 15 and did not undergo the hydration step S2a. The other conditions were the same as in evaluation experiment 2, and the results are as follows.

[0106] 1. Strawberries Compared to control experiment 2, the growth of the aboveground parts was slightly suppressed, but the yield was almost the same as control experiment 2. (a) Leaf absorption Although the absorption on the leaves was slow, most of the solution was absorbed within 30 minutes after application, but Maillard reaction products remained on the leaves at the site of application. (b) Permeability in the cell membrane Instead of foliar spray sample 2 in evaluation experiment 2, a foliar spray sample using the above yeast treatment was prepared (hereinafter referred to as comparative foliar spray sample 2), and this comparative foliar spray sample 2 was diluted 2000 times to prepare a diluted solution which was used as a spreading agent. The other conditions were the same as in evaluation experiment 2. No phytotoxic symptoms were observed, and the evaluation results showed that there was no cell membrane permeability.

[0107] 2. Onion (variety: Sonic) Although the upright roots were elongated compared to control experiment 2, the yield (tuber yield) was lower than that of control experiment 2, at 4.38 kg.

[0108] 3. Eggplant (variety: Chikuyo) No black blight occurred, and the yield was roughly the same as in control experiment 2.

[0109] 4. Zucchini The yield and quality were comparable to those of control experiment 2.

[0110] 5. Sweet potato The amount of tuberous root per plant was 0.84 kg.

[0111] 6. Rice The average milled rice weight per 10a was approximately 491kg.

[0112] [Control experiment 2] The plants were cultivated using the above-mentioned phosphorus-potassium liquid compound fertilizer. Other conditions were the same as in Evaluation Experiment 2.

[0113] 1. Strawberries The yield was 98% compared to the previous year (2020). (a) Leaf absorption The absorption on the leaf surface was very slow, and the Maillard reaction products remained in the drip area on the leaf surface and penetrated to the underside of the leaves. (b) Permeability in the cell membrane No phytotoxicity symptoms were observed, and the evaluation results showed that the cell membrane permeability was lower than that of foliar spray sample 2.

[0114] 2. Onion (variety: Sonic) The number of upright roots was smaller and the growth was poorer than in Comparative Test 2. The yield (tuber yield) was about 6 kg.

[0115] 3. Eggplant (variety: Chikuyo) The tree vigor continued to decline from the peak harvest season, and black blight disease occurred at one point. The yield per 10 ares was about 20 tons.

[0116] 4. Zucchini The yield was approximately 97% compared to the previous year (2020).

[0117] 5. Sweet potato The yield was 82-85% compared to the previous year (2020), and the amount of tuberous roots per plant was 0.39 kg.

[0118] 6. Rice The average polished rice weight per 10a was approximately 333 kg. [Explanation of symbols]

[0119] 11 Yeast raw material 13 Yeast processed products 15 Siliceous shale 17 mixture 31 Processing facilities 32 Mixing moisture device 33, 85 Contact treatment equipment 34 Ultrasonic processing equipment 35 Molding freezing equipment 36 water 37 Contact treatment section 38 Superheated steam supply section S1 Mixing process S2 Preliminary process S2a Hydration process S2b Molding process S2c Freezing process S3 Contact treatment process S6 Ultrasonication process

Claims

1. a mixing step of mixing at least one of yeast and yeast components as a yeast raw material with siliceous shale fine particles to form a mixture; a hydration step of incorporating water into the mixture; a contact treatment step of contacting the water-containing mixture with superheated steam; an ultrasonic treatment step in which water is added to the mixture that has undergone the contact treatment step, and then ultrasonic treatment is performed; A method for treating yeast, comprising:

2. a forming step of forming the mixture into a mass prior to the contact treatment step, 2. The method for treating yeast according to claim 1, wherein the mixture is in the form of a mass and is subjected to the contact treatment step.

3. a freezing treatment step of freezing the mixture before the contact treatment step; 3. The method for treating yeast according to claim 1, wherein the mixture is subjected to the contact treatment step in a frozen state or after being thawed after being frozen.

4. a plurality of first microparticles composed of β-glucan derived from yeast cell walls; a plurality of second microparticles containing the yeast cell wall-derived α-galactomannoprotein; a plurality of third fine particles derived from cell membranes of yeast having the yeast cell walls; Fine particles of siliceous shale and A composition comprising:

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