Kombucha Cellulose-based Derivative Refined from a Symbiotic Colony of Bacteria and Yeast

Abstract

Cellulose products or additives derived from one or more microbes grown in a symbiotic colony of bacteria and yeast (SCOBY) formed during Kombucha culture and/or fermentation.

1 ) The invention described herein includes a cellulose product or additive derived from one or more microbes grown in a symbiotic colony of bacteria and yeast (SCOBY) formed during Kombucha culture and/or fermentation, wherein the cellulose product is substantially free of lignin and hemicellulose, and wherein the cellulose product is used as an additive to a different product to change one or more properties of that different product, and wherein the one or more properties are chosen from at least one of: a physical property, a chemical property, a morphological property, a rheological property, or a biological property. 
     
     
         2 ) The cellulose product of  claim 1 , wherein the cellulose product is microfibrillated cellulose (MFC), nano fibrillated cellulose (NFC), nanocrystalline cellulose, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         3 ) The cellulose product of  claim 1 , wherein one or more properties of the one or more properties chosen from at least one of: the physical property, the chemical property, the morphological property, the rheological property, or the biological property, are chosen from at least one of: density, water retention, shelf stability, air permeability, insulative strength, pathogen resistance, water vapor permeability, moisture barrier properties, porosity, hydrophobicity, thermal insulative stability, burst strength, compression strength, tensile strength, elongation, tear strength, stiffness, elastic modulus, smoothness, electrostatic stability, radiation absorption, shelf life, bioavailability, sublingual absorption, pharmacokinetic profile, pharmacodynamics profile, controlled release profile, solubility, binding, physical stability or chemical stability. 
     
     
         4 ) The cellulose product of  claim 1 , wherein the cellulose product is processed to change its physical, chemical, morphological, rheological, or biological properties, thereby adding, removing, or modifying, physical, chemical, morphological, rheological, biological, or functional properties of the cellulose product. 
     
     
         5 ) A product comprising a cellulose product derived from a microbe grown in a symbiotic colony of bacteria and yeast (SCOBY) formed during Kombucha culture and/or fermentation, wherein the product comprising the cellulose product is chosen from one or more of: a structural object, a moldable paste, a foam, a synthetic leather, an encapsulating agent, an emulsifying agent, an active compound carrier, an aerogel, a hydrogel, a polymeric composite, a sheet, a coating, a coating precursor, a current or voltage carrier, a filter, a membrane, a resin, a catalyst, a catalyst substrate, a coating additive, a paint additive, an adhesive additive, a cement additive, a paper coating, a thickening agent, a rheology modifier, a drilling fluid additive, a bioplastic, a paper or paperboard, a cosmetic skin care product, a food packaging, an edible food casing, an edible consumable filler, an insulation, a biofiltration sponge, a carbon composite, a growth medium substrate, a wound dressing, a dissolvable buccal or sublingual lozenge, a synthetic fabric, a gum, a gel, or an aerosolized spray. 
     
     
         6 ) The product of  claim 5 , wherein the cellulose product is comprised of a blend of polymers including one or more of: polylactic acid (PLA), polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA), polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB), bio-based polyethylene from bioethanol (Bio-PE), Poly(e-caprolactone) (PCL), poly vinyl alcohol (PVA), polyvinyl acetate (PVAc), chitin, carrageenans, collagen, pectin, gelatin, lignin, chitosan, keratin, silk fibroin, alginic acid, hyaluronic acid, agarose, xanthan gum, or starch. 
     
     
         7 ) The product of  claim 5 , further comprising a reconstituted, homogenized, pulverized, or powderized bulk plant derived material. 
     
     
         8 ) The product of  claim 7 , wherein the product is formed as a sheet, a cylinder, or a cone. 
     
     
         9 ) The product of  claim 7 , wherein the bulk plant derived material is sourced from one or more of tobacco, hemp, flax, eucalyptus, sisal, esparto, bamboo, perennial fibers, softwood and/or hardwood fibers, rag fibers, and cotton. 
     
     
         10 ) The product of  claim 7 , wherein the cellulose product reduces a porosity and increases a tensile strength or a binding capability of the reconstituted, homogenized, or powderized bulk plant derived material, and wherein the cellulose product and/or the reconstituted, homogenized, or powderized bulk plant derived material, is used for humectants, flavorings, combustion modifiers, rheological agents, and/or mineral additives. 
     
     
         11 ) The product of  claim 7 , wherein the cellulose product increases one or more of a flavor retention, a psychoactive compound effect, a psychoactive effect, or a moisture control, of the reconstituted, homogenized, powderized bulk plant derived material, or other synthetic or natural flavors including one or more of licorice, sugar, fructose syrup, isosweet, cocoa, lavender, cinnamon, cardamom, apium graveolens, fenugreek, cascarilla, sandalwood, bergamot, geranium, honey essence, rose oil, vanilla, lemon oil, orange oil, mint oils, cassia, caraway, cognac, jasmine, chamomile, menthol, cassia, ylang-ylang, sage, spearmint, ginger, coriander, coffee, or humectants such as glycerin, propylene glycol, limonene, myrcene, caryophyllene, beta-caryphyllene, pinene, humulene, terpinene, linalool, ocimene, borneol, nerolidol, valencene, geraniol, carene, camphene, phellandrene, farnesene, fenchol, p-cymene, elemene, eucalyptol, bisabolol, alpha-bisabolo, phytol, sabinene, isoborneol, Octanol, Isopulegol, Cedrene, Camphene, Geranyl Acetate, Bergamotene, Camphor, and/or Pulegon. 
     
     
         12 ) A product comprising a cellulose product derived from one or more microbes grown in a symbiotic colony of bacteria and yeast (SCOBY) formed during Kombucha culture and/or fermentation, wherein the product is formed using about 50% or more of the cellulose product derived from the one or more microbes grown in the symbiotic colony of bacteria and yeast (SCOBY) formed during Kombucha culture and/or fermentation.