BACKGROUND: Biomass-based materials have gained attention as next-generation materials due to their renewable and eco-friendly characteristics. Among these, mycelium materials, utilizing mushroom mycelium, are being actively researched and developed worldwide. The current mainstream technology involves a bottom-up process of cultivating mycelium to form objects. However, in Japan, where mushroom production is high, we considered the possibility of competition between mycelium cultivation and food production. Therefore, we focused on a "scrap-and-build" approach, which allows for the use of inedible mushrooms and by-products. This study aims to create novel fibrous materials by breaking down mushroom mycelium. Specifically, we prepare mycelium pulp using Ganoderma lucidum (Reishi), an inedible and tough mushroom, as well as hot-water extraction residues of Flammulina velutipes (Enokitake) by-products. This presentation will discuss the concept of this technology and the properties of the materials. RESULTS: Through chemical treatment with sodium hydroxide solution and hydrogen peroxide, as well as UV irradiation, the fruiting bodies were effectively bleached, and ultrasonic processing produced a slurry-like substance with dispersed micrometer-sized mycelium. In the obtained samples, the mycelium maintained its structure, with thick, linear mycelium measuring 8.0 ± 3.4 μm in width observed in F. velutipes and fine, branched mycelium measuring 2.3 ± 0.6 μm in width observed in G. lucidum. FT-IR spectral analysis indicated no significant changes in the chemical composition of the mycelium pulp after bleaching and fibrillation treatments, suggesting the presence of various polysaccharides. The mycelium pulp could be molded into yarn-like, film-like, or sponge-like forms. CONCLUSION: These findings confirmed that, unlike conventional fruiting body-derived materials, the mycelium pulp retained its mycelial structure. This study successfully created mycelium pulp, a novel mushroom-derived material. Mycelium pulp holds diverse potential applications as a sustainable material and is expected to contribute to the circular bioeconomy.
저자
Satomi Tagawa [ Faculty of Engineering, University of Miyazaki, 1-1 Gakuen Kibanadai-Nishi, Miyazaki, 8892192, Japan ]
