Bacillus Spore Preservation Using Metal Oxide Coatings

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current microbial pesticidal compositions face challenges in preserving viable spores of bacteria like Bacillus for long periods due to issues such as rapid cell death and contamination, especially when handling large quantities, and existing methods are not suitable for large-scale applications.

Innovation Solution

A microbial pesticidal composition is developed using a blend of viable spores of Bacillus subtilis and/or Bacillus amyloliquefaciens combined with metal oxides, hydroxides, or their silicic acid salts, where the spores are encapsulated within micro granules or granules with a surface coating of these materials, maintaining stability and viability over time.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If general preservation methods (freeze-drying, paraffin oil storage, slant medium) are used for microorganisms, then small-scale amounts can be preserved, but large-scale handling and long-term stability are not achieved

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveamount of microorganismsVSAvoidpreservation period
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the physical and chemical parameters of the preservation environment by using supercritical carbon dioxide extraction to remove lipids and oils from the carrier material. This parameter change (removing organic components that support microbial growth) enables long-term preservation of large quantities of microorganisms without contamination or degradation, resolving the contradiction between quantity and preservation duration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If substrate with nutrient components is used for microbial formulation, then microorganisms can be supported, but pathogenic microbes grow during preservation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemicrobial supportVSAvoidpathogenic microbe growth
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts and removes lipid and oil components from the carrier substrate using supercritical carbon dioxide extraction. By taking out these nutrient components that support microbial growth, the formulation can maintain microorganisms without providing food for pathogenic contamination, thus resolving the contradiction between microbial support and prevention of pathogenic growth.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Duration of action of stationary object

If adsorbent with ammonia-adsorbing ability is mixed in formulation, then some preservation effect is achieved, but water addition deactivates the adsorbent and long-term stability is not obtained

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepreservation stabilityVSAvoidformulation process
Core Design Contradiction:
Duration of action of stationary objectVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the chemical composition parameters of the carrier material by removing lipids and oils through supercritical CO2 extraction. This creates an inert, water-compatible substrate that provides preservation stability without deactivating when water is added during formulation, resolving both the preservation duration and manufacturing ease contradictions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

4Reliability

If chemical fungicide is mixed with bacterial spores, then disease control is enhanced, but spore viability decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedisease control effectVSAvoidspore viability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The invention uses a lipid-free carrier material as an intermediary substance between the bacterial spores and chemical fungicide. This intermediary protects the spores from direct contact and deactivating effects of the chemical fungicide while still allowing the fungicide to provide disease control, thus resolving the contradiction between disease control effectiveness and spore viability maintenance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This approach ensures the long-term preservation of viable spores in a living state, maintaining their effectiveness and stability even after storage for several years, without significant loss of viability.

Implementation Method 1

a microbial pesticidal composition comprising a blend of viable spores of Bacillus subtilis and/or Bacillus amyloliquefaciens and at least one member selected from a metal oxide, a metal hydroxide, a metal oxide silicic acid salt, and a metal hydroxide silicic acid salt

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAdsorption: Adsorption

Data Source

PatentUS9326522B2Microbial pesticidal composition
Publication Date: 2016.05.03 KUMIAI CHEM IND CO LTD

AI summary

[Problem]A microbial pesticidal composition containing viable spores of a bacterium belonging to the genus Bacillus and a chemical pesticide, in which the spores can be preserved stably in a living state for a long period of time, and a method for preserving the spores stably in a living state for a long period of time, are provided.[Dissolution Means]Viable spores of Bacillus subtilis and/or Bacillus amyloliquefaciens are blended with at least one member selected from a metal oxide, a metal hydroxide, a metal oxide silicic acid salt, and a metal hydroxide silicic acid salt.