Pelletized Feed Material for Biomass Generator

Abstract

The present invention is a bacteria and nutrient delivery composition containing bran. The subject composition is preferably made in the form of a tablet that is structurally stable without being excessively hard. The tablets preferably have a configuration that reduces the likelihood of premature shearing in tableting presses or jamming in feeder devices for biomass generators. Methods of manufacturing the bacterial delivery composition in a structurally stable form that maintains bacterial viability are also provided.

1 . A tablet comprising bran and at least one waste-decomposing microorganism, wherein said tablet is formed having a hardness of between about 5.5 kilopond and about 8.5 kilopond. 
   
   
       2 . The tablet of  claim 1 , wherein said bran is about 2 percent or less by weight of said tablet. 
   
   
       3 . The tablet of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one waste-decomposing microorganism by weight is between about 0.1 percent and about 10 percent by weight of said tablet. 
   
   
       4 . The tablet of  claim 1 , wherein said tablet comprises at least one strain of waste-decomposing microorganism that is spore-forming and at least one other strain that is non-sporeforming. 
   
   
       5 . The tablet of  claim 4 , wherein at least one spore-forming strain of waste-decomposing microorganisms is from the genus  Bacillus.    
   
   
       6 . The tablet of  claim 4 , wherein said at least one non-sporeforming strain of waste-decomposing bacteria is from the genus  Pseudomonas.    
   
   
       7 . The tablet of  claim 1  further comprising at least one base component. 
   
   
       8 . A tablet comprising bran and at least one waste-decomposing microorganism and having a hardness of between about 5.5 kilopond and about 8.5 kilopond, wherein said tablet has a cylindrical portion extending between a first end and a second end and having a diameter, and a longitudinal axis having a length. 
   
   
       9 . The tablet of  claim 8 , wherein said first end and said second end each have a radius of curvature that forms an end that is outwardly convex with respect to said cylindrical portion to form a cup depth along said longitudinal axis between said cylindrical portion and the outermost point of said first end or said second end. 
   
   
       10 . The tablet of  claim 8 , wherein said radius of curvature is between about 2 inches and about 3 inches. 
   
   
       11 . The tablet of  claim 8 , wherein said longitudinal axis length is between about 0.25 inches and about 0.28 inches and said diameter is between about 0.23 inches and about 0.27 inches. 
   
   
       12 . The tablet of  claim 8 , wherein in the ratio of said longitudinal axis length of said tablet to its diameter is between about 0.9 and 1.2. 
   
   
       13 . The tablet of  claim 9 , wherein said longitudinal axis length is between about 0.25 inches and 0.68 inches, said radius of curvature of said first end and said second end is between about 0.2 inches and about 0.3 inches, and said cup depth of said first end and said second end is between about 0.018 inches and about 0.048 inches. 
   
   
       14 . The tablet of  claim 9 , wherein said longitudinal axis length is about 0.266 inches, said radius of curvature of about 0.253 inches, and said cup depth of about 0.033 inches. 
   
   
       15 . The tablet of  claim 8  further comprising at least one base component. 
   
   
       16 . A tablet comprising bran, at least one spore-forming waste-decomposing microorganism from the genus  Bacillus , at least one non-sporeforming waste-decomposing microorganism from the genus  Pseudomonas , at least one base component, and having a hardness of between about 5.5 kilopond and about 8.5 kilopond,
 wherein said tablet has a cylindrical portion extending between a first end and a second end and having a diameter, and having a longitudinal axis having a length,   wherein said first end and said second end each has a radius of curvature that forms an end that is outwardly convex with respect to said cylindrical portion to form a cup depth along said longitudinal axis length between said cylindrical portion and the outermost point of said first end or said second end, and   wherein said longitudinal axis length is between about 0.25 inches and 0.68 inches, said radius of curvature of said first end and said second end is between about 0.2 inches and about 0.3 inches, and said cup depth of said first end and said second end is between about 0.018 inches and about 0.048 inches.   
   
   
       17 . A method of manufacturing a tablet comprising bran and a waste-decomposing microorganism comprising the steps of:
 blending bran, at least one waste-decomposing microorganism and at least one base component to form a composition; and   pressing said composition at a pressure and for a period of time sufficient to form a tablet having a hardness of between about 5.5 kilopond and about 8.5 kilopond.   
   
   
       18 . The tablet of  claim 17 , wherein said tablet contains two or more strains of waste-decomposing microorganisms. 
   
   
       19 . The tablet of  claim 18 , wherein at least one strain of waste-decomposing microorganism is spore-forming and at least one other strain is non-sporeforming. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 17  wherein said tablet is formed to have a cylindrical portion extending between a first end and a second end and having a diameter, and a longitudinal axis having a length,
 wherein said first end and said second end each has a radius of curvature that form ends that are outwardly convex with respect to said cylindrical portion to form a cup depth along said longitudinal axis between said cylindrical portion and the outermost point of said first end or said second end, and   wherein said longitudinal axis has a length in a relationship to said diameter of said cylindrical portion and said relationship is expressed as a ratio, wherein said ratio of said tablet is between about 0.9 and 1.2.   
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein said tablet has a longitudinal axis length of between about 0.25 inches and 0.68 inches, said radius of curvature of said first end and said second end is between about 0.2 inches and about 0.3 inches, and said cup depth of said first end and said second end is between about 0.018 inches and about 0.048 inches.