Project Title:

A Waste Cellulose to Edible Mushrooms Conversion System

94-1	12.03	6845		

A Waste Cellulose to Edible Mushrooms Conversion System
 

Abstract:

We propose a biomass processing system to convert waste cellulose 
into traditional human food, edible mushroom. Because of its 
cultural requirements, we have chosen the hardy "padistraw". Other 
candidate systems are more complex and can require more power and 
be of greater mass and volume. Some of them face the problem of 
consumer acceptability and yield only animal feed. The proposed 
system will accept waste lignocellulose from Controlled Ecological 
Life Support Systems (CELSS) and transform it to a state suitable 
for inoculation with mushroom spawn. The waste biomass composed of 
plant wastes and Dictyostelium cellulose will be contained in a 
housing which will install directly into the equipment and be kept 
moist by wicking material. When mature mushrooms are harvested, the 
used substrate containing mushroom spawn and mycelium will be 
recycled and mixed with the next batch of waste biomass. Processing 
inedible biomass into human food will help reduce resupply needs 
and extend the time humans can spend in space

Potential applications are in field situations such as closed 
habitats, (submarine environments), remote locations on land 
(desert environments) and wherever food resources are scarce.

Key Words

NSR-EOD Joint Venture
125 Dare Road
Selden, NY  11784