Valorisation of spent mushroom substrate

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The use of SMS as bio filter An alternative use of SMS was developed for using this biomass as bio filter. Agriculture and the processing industry of agricultural products (food industry) are facing increasing demand to reduce/eliminate spreading of bad odours, and harmful gases including greenhouse gases. Therefore there is a need for filtering large volumes of contaminated air. In the present project we have developed a method to utilize SMS of the production of Pleurotus spp. mushrooms, as a basis for a bio filter for those gases. We have demonstrated efficient reduction of ammonia (NH3). The content of the above mentioned gases in the air was reduced significantly. There is a potential to patent the structure and operation schemes of the bio-filter, Decisions on this matter will be taken by the consortium due to the potential marketing of the product.

Recycled Casing Soil (CS) Casing soil is used in large amounts by the mushroom industry. The CS is based mainly on peat moss, a natural resource, mainly from Europe and North America. The world reserves of peat are decreasing and its excavation is already banned in several regions. The prices of peat-moss casing soil are increasing and are now about 30 Euro for cubic meter (in Europe). Due to its low volume weight its transportation costs are high and increasing, due to increase of energy costs. Therefore our ideas to re-use the casing soil, in the mushroom industry. In order to re-use CS from SMS the following stages were developed. Treatments for the recycled CS The used CS is treated, according to our results as follows: Leaching Leaching is applied to decrease the content of minerals (salts) in the CS. The leaching is done until the Electrical conductivity (EC) which is approximately 15-20 ds/m3 in the used CS is decreased to 1-2 ds/m3 and pH reaches value of 7-7.6. The leaching is followed by pasteurisation if the SMS was not "cooked out" to avoid survival of infecting agents. The pasteurisation is done by heating the leached used CS to 65°C for 60 minutes. Combined formula The leached CS is mixed with new CS and/or with other ingredients The combined formula were tested in comparison with new CS as a control. The results show the possibility of using the combined formula as an alternative to the original fresh CS in the mushroom industry, with no harmful effect on mushroom yields (quality or quantity). The probability of patenting the above mentioned process is doubtful since once such a patent is filed all the details of the process are published. There will be in this case only a small problem for anybody to copy the process. On the other hand if the process is kept discrete within the consortium, it will be available to the mushroom producers in the consortium. The consortium will be able to sign a know-how license agreement with other mushroom producers.

SMS separator A separator of CS from SMS was developed. This separator separates between the upper layer which is the casing soil and the lower layer, the compost. The upper layer of the SMS is further treated in order to be acceptable for use as casing soil again. The compost is left separately for re-composting and use in horticulture. The separator was designed, developed and tested by Limbraco B.V. The separation machine is patentable and the decision to file a patent will be taken once there is demand for such machines.

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