Textile compositions comprising at least one filamentous fungus are disclosed, as are methods for making and using such textile compositions. Embodiments of the textile compositions generally include at least one of a plasticizer, a polymer, and a crosslinker, in addition to the filamentous fungus. The disclosed textile compositions are particularly useful as analogs or substitutes for conventional textile compositions, including but not limited to leather.

Provided herein are mycelium materials and methods for production thereof. In some embodiments, a mycelium material includes: a cultivated mycelium material including one or more masses of branching hyphae, wherein the one or more masses of branching hyphae may be disrupted or pressed and/or a bonding agent may be combined with the cultivated mycelium material. Methods of producing a mycelium material are also provided.

A foam includes a cellular structure and having a density of at most 0.50 g/cm.sup.3, where the cellular structure is provided by a solid material that includes humins. Such a foam is prepared in a process, which includes: providing a starting material containing humins; and heating the starting material to a temperature in the range of 150 to 450 C. The foam can be used in articles for a variety of applications such as substrate for plant growth, as adsorbent for treating waste water or waste gases, as support for solid catalysts, as insulation material, or packaging material.

This invention relates to the field of producing bioplastics. Specifically, it relates to a method of producing all key ingredients of bioplastic making from pumpkins and making of bioplastic with these ingredients. More specifically, glycerin and other chemicals are extracted from pumpkin seed oil and mixed with starches that in the pumpkin flesh and then reinforced with pumpkin fibers to make bioplastic. The bioplastic produced with the method as disclosed in this invention possess superior properties in tensile strength and biodegradability compared to bioplastic made with petroleum derived glycerin.

Described herein are low protein concentration gelling compositions comprising keratin proteins.

A process for producing a humic acid (HA)-derived foam, comprising: (a) preparing a HA dispersion having multiple HA molecules and an optional blowing agent dispersed in a liquid medium having a blowing agent-to-HA weight ratio from 0/1.0 to 1.0/1.0; (b) dispensing and depositing the HA dispersion onto a surface of a supporting substrate to form a wet HA layer; (c) partially or completely removing liquid medium from the wet HA layer to form a dried HA layer; and (d) heat treating the dried HA layer at a first heat treatment temperature from 80 C. to 3,200 C. at a desired heating rate sufficient to induce volatile gas molecules from the non-carbon elements or to activate the blowing agent for producing the HA-derived foam.

Provided herein are mycelium materials and methods for production thereof. In some embodiments, a mycelium material includes: a cultivated mycelium material including one or more masses of branching hyphae, wherein the one or more masses of branching hyphae may be disrupted or pressed and/or a bonding agent may be combined with the cultivated mycelium material. Methods of producing a mycelium material are also provided.

Described herein are low protein concentration gelling compositions comprising keratin proteins.

A process for manufacturing a tubular film such as an edible casing film or a packaging film. The process includes the steps of providing a preblended powder composition containing a polymer matrix, a plasticizer, and water; feeding the preblended powder composition to an extruder; heating the preblended powder composition to a temperature above 100 degrees Celsius for a sufficient time to fully hydrate the polymer matrix and to convert the powder composition to a flowable mass; and extruding the flowable mass through a tubular die of the extruder to form the tubular film. The tubular film comprises: about 40-75 wt % polymer matrix; about 10-35 wt % plasticizer; and about 10-35 wt % water. The polymer matrix component is fully hydrated under the temperature, pressure and shear conditions inside the extruder, and may have a component which is only fully hydrated at temperatures above about 100 degrees Celsius.

Textile compositions comprising at least one filamentous fungus are disclosed, as are methods for making and using such textile compositions. Embodiments of the textile compositions generally include at least one of a plasticizer, a polymer, and a crosslinker, in addition to the filamentous fungus. The disclosed textile compositions are particularly useful as analogs or substitutes for conventional textile compositions, including but not limited to leather.