Undiluted Microbial Cell Dispersion Using Polysaccharide Coating
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Solution Overview
Problem
Microbial cells added to drinking water tend to sediment, leading to non-uniform ingestion and clogging issues, and existing methods to prevent sedimentation are costly and impractical, requiring continuous stirring or equipment like stirrers and pumps.
Innovation Solution
An undiluted microbial cell dispersion is created by coating microbial cells with an aqueous gelling or thickening polysaccharide, such as agar, xanthan gum, or carrageenan, and using a multi-step process involving disintegration, dissolution, cooling, and re-disintegration to maintain suspension in water for extended periods without the need for continuous stirring or pumps.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If microbial cells are added to drinking water, then the microbial cells can be ingested by livestock, but the microbial cells will readily sediment leading to non-uniform ingestion and clogging of pipes
Solution Approach 1:
A polysaccharide substance is introduced as an intermediary between the microbial cells and water. The polysaccharide forms a coating around the microbial cells, acting as a mediator that prevents direct interaction between the cells and water that would cause sedimentation, thereby maintaining uniform distribution without requiring continuous stirring
Solution Approach 2:
The surface properties of microbial cells are changed by coating them with polysaccharide. This parameter change modifies the physical and chemical characteristics of the cell surface, increasing hydrophilicity and reducing aggregation, which prevents sedimentation and maintains stable suspension in drinking water
2Stability of the object's composition
If a polysaccharide is added to thicken or gel the water to suppress sedimentation, then the microbial cells can remain suspended, but it requires adding concentrated microbial cell dispersion to large amounts of water and maintaining re-dispersed state for long periods
Solution Approach 1:
The microbial cells are pre-coated with polysaccharide in a concentrated dispersion before being added to the drinking water. This preliminary action ensures that the cells are already protected against sedimentation, eliminating the need for complex stirring equipment and long-term maintenance of re-dispersed state in the actual water system
3Quantity of substance
If concentrated microbial cell dispersion is added to large amounts of drinking water, then the microbial cells can be distributed, but continuous stirring or pumping is required to maintain suspension
Solution Approach 1:
The polysaccharide-coated microbial cells possess self-suspending properties that allow them to remain uniformly distributed in drinking water without external energy input. The coating provides steric stabilization and prevents aggregation, enabling the system to maintain cell distribution autonomously without continuous stirring or pumping
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
The method effectively prevents microbial cell sedimentation, allowing them to remain suspended in water for several days without the need for continuous agitation or specialized equipment, enhancing their distribution and ingestion uniformity.
Implementation Method 1
aqueous gel- or thickener-coated microbial cells coated with an aqueous gelling or thickening polysaccharide
Implementation Method 2
aqueous gel- or thickener-coated microbial cells coated with an aqueous gelling or thickening polysaccharide
Implementation Method 3
suppresses separation and/or sedimentation in the diluted dispersion
Data Source
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AI summary
The object of the present invention is to provide an undiluted microbial cell dispersion in which the bacterial cells added and dispersed in drinking water have an extended period of time for suspending in water, and a production method therefor. The undiluted microbial cell dispersion comprises gel- or thickener-coated microbial cells coated with an aqueous gelling or thickening polysaccharide in a gel form or a thickener form, and an aqueous medium in which the gel- or thickener-coated microbial cells are densely dispersed.