Properties of large size in situ formed mycelium bio-foam
Mycelium bio-foam is an in situ formed material primarily composed by agricultural and forestry residues.It involves the mycelium wrapping around these residues,binding them together into a cohesive whole with a certain strength.The surface is then encapsulated by a waterproof fungal"skin",and the entire process integrates planting technology used in cultivating edible fungi.Mycelium bio-foam is a green,degradable and environmentally friendly material,which has attracted much attention.Forming specifications and mechanical properties are fundamental and critical considerations in the application of the materials.In this study,five types of substrates and various nylon net mesh reinforcement measures were designed to investigate the properties of in situ formation of large-size mycelium bio-foam,and the key factors affecting its forming quality were discussed.The results indicated that the morphology of mycelium varied depending on the growth medium,and the dense epidermis formed by the mycelium exhibited pronounced hydrophobicity after drying.The forming efficiency was affected by different forming materials.The culture medium based on peach wood fragments was most suitable for the growth of Pleurotus ostreatus.The bending resistance of mycelium bio-foam covered with 10-mesh nylon net was the greatest,the average failure load was 150.42 N,and the absorbed energy when failure occurred was the highest,and the average value was 5 828.95 J.Compared with the mycelium bio-foam without mesh cloth,the bending resistance of mycelium bio-foam was improved significantly.In the process of forming large-size mycelia bio-foam,the critical factors are suitable forming environment,granularity of plant fragments,integrity of mycelia epidermis,control of dry shrinkage generated by drying deactivation,and appropriate inoculation amount.This study provides a new idea and basic support for the further development and application of mycelium bio-foam,which is conducive to the development and application of mycelium biomass composite materials.After the culture medium was occupied fully by the mycelium,it would form a fruit body,which can be called a mushroom.Currently,the mycelium exhibits a fine and highly organized structure,primarily serving to transport nutrients and support growth rather than absorbing influences.Therefore,an idea to consider is integrating the production of mycelium bio-foam with the edible mushroom cultivation industry.This could involve transitioning from traditional bag culture to box culture,thereby facilitating the harvesting of mycelium bio-foam alongside edible mushrooms.In the future,factorization,standardization,and efficiency improvement are the development direction of mycelium bio-foam.
国家科技期刊平台
NSTL
万方数据
