METHOD OF DYEING FABRIC USING MICROORGANISMS

Abstract

This invention relates to a method for dyeing fabrics, yarns and fibers using microorganisms whereby the adsorption of dye-containing microorganisms onto textile fibers is improved using carbon sources above a threshold concentration. Dye molecules contained within the microorganism are released from the microorganism and fixed directly and locally to the textile fibers using a heat treatment step. Said heat treatment also deactivates the carrier microorganisms. Single or multiple microorganism species, and single or multiple dyes produced by said single or multiple microorganism species may create a variety of textile colors. Suitable synthetic dyes may also be added before, during or after microorganisms have produced dyes but before the dye-releasing heat treatment step.

Claims

1. A method for dyeing a substrate, comprising: a. culturing a dye-producing microorganism in the presence of a substrate to be dyed, and in the presence of a growth medium comprising a carbon source above a predetermined threshold concentration, such that the microorganism is cultured in contact with the substrate; b. lysing the cultured microorganism to release dye in contact with the substrate; and c. fixing the released dye onto the substrate.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the predetermined threshold concentration of carbon source is 10% (v/v) to 90% (v/v) depending on the carbon source selected to optimize the transfer rate of dye-containing microorganisms to the substrate, and the quality of subsequent dye fixation to the substrate.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the lysing and fixing are carried out in a single process.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the lysing and fixing are carried out by exposing the substrate and microorganism to heat above 101° C.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein one or more culture parameters selected from temperature, carbon dioxide concentration, pH and agitation frequency are selected so as to optimize the production of dye, the transfer rate to the substrate, and the quality of fixation to the substrate.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising initially culturing the dye-producing microorganism in the absence of the substrate to be dyed, prior to step 1a.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising washing the dyed substrate to remove waste contaminants prior to and post step 1c.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein two or more different dye-producing microorganism species are used simultaneously.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein two or more different dyes are produced by one or more different microorganisms.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein additional dyes, including dyes added exogenously, are present during the lysing and fixing.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the substrate is selected from natural, synthetic, semi-synthetic and mixed substrates.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the substrate comprises a member selected from silk, cotton, flax, wool, and leather.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the substrate comprises a member selected from rayon and acetate.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the substrate comprises a member selected from polyester, nylon, acrylic, elastin, polyvinyl and similar petrochemical derivatives.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the dye-producing microorganism produces a dye selected from biologically derived pigments, chromoproteins, fluorescent proteins and bioluminescent proteins.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the microorganism is a eukaryotic organism.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the eukaryotic organism is selected from plant, algae, fungi, worms and arthropods.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the microorganism is a prokaryotic organism.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the prokaryotic organism is selected from archae and eubacteria.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the prokaryotic organisms are Gram positive bacteria selected from the group consisting of Bacillus spp. and Clostridium spp.

21-36. (canceled)

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0042] The invention can be better understood with reference to the following drawings and description.

[0043] FIG. 1A illustrates the first step of the method for growing and depositing pigments produced by microorganisms according to JP2810287B2 showing a pigment-producing bacteria species inoculated in a media solution.

[0044] FIG. 1B illustrates the second step of the method for growing and depositing pigments produced by microorganisms according to JP2810287B2 showing bacteria inoculated in a second media solution.

[0045] FIG. 1C illustrates the third step of the method for growing and depositing pigments produced by microorganisms according to JP2810287B2 showing a wool decomposition product added to the media solution.

[0046] FIG. 1D illustrates the fourth step of the method for growing and depositing pigments produced by microorganisms according to JP2810287B2 showing threads added to the media solution and some of the pigments contained within the microorganisms released into the media solution.

[0047] FIG. 1E illustrates the fifth step of the method for growing and depositing pigments produced by microorganisms according to JP2810287B2 showing threads removed from the dye bath and washed under running water.

[0048] FIG. 2A illustrates a method for dyeing textiles according to the present invention showing a dye-producing microorganism inoculated in a volume of media solution.

[0049] FIG. 2B illustrates a method for dyeing textiles according to the present invention showing a culture medium containing dye-containing microorganisms, a volume of media solution, a second volume of carbon source and a substrate.

[0050] FIG. 2C illustrates a method for dyeing textiles according to the present invention showing dye-containing microorganisms adsorbed into a substrate.

[0051] FIG. 2D illustrates a method for dyeing textiles according to the present invention showing a dyed substrate being removed from a culture medium.

[0052] FIG. 2E illustrates a method for dyeing textiles according to the present invention showing a dyed substrate being subjected to a heat treatment.

[0053] FIG. 2F illustrates a method for dyeing textiles according to the present invention showing a washing machine removing lysed microorganisms from a substrate having dye molecules fixed to its fibers.

[0054] FIG. 3 is a micrograph showing E. coli grown in a liquid culture in a 1% (v/v) concentration of glycerol in 50% (v/v) LB medium and water.

[0055] FIG. 4 is a micrograph showing E. coli grown in a liquid culture in a 5% (v/v) concentration of glycerol in 50% (v/v) LB medium and water.

[0056] FIG. 5 is a micrograph showing E. coli grown in a liquid culture in a 5% (v/v) concentration of glycerol in 50% (v/v) LB medium and water.

[0057] FIG. 6 is a micrograph showing E. coli grown in a liquid culture in a 10% (v/v) concentration of glycerol in 50% (v/v) LB medium and water.

[0058] FIG. 7 is a micrograph showing E. coli grown in a liquid culture in a 20% (v/v) concentration of glycerol in 50% (v/v) LB medium and water.

[0059] FIG. 8 is a micrograph showing E. coli grown in a liquid culture in a 20% (v/v) concentration of glycerol in 50% (v/v) LB medium and water.

[0060] FIG. 9 is a micrograph showing E. coli grown in a liquid culture in a 50% (v/v) concentration of glycerol in 50% (v/v) LB medium and water.

[0061] FIG. 10 is a micrograph showing E. coli grown in a liquid culture in a 50% (v/v) concentration of glycerol in 50% (v/v) LB medium and water.

[0062] FIG. 11 is a micrograph showing E. coli grown in a liquid culture in a 50% (v/v) concentration of glycerol in 50% (v/v) LB medium and water.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0063] The features and advantages of the present invention will be more readily understood, by those of ordinary skill in the art, from reading the following detailed description. It is to be appreciated those certain features of the invention, which are, for clarity, described above and below in the context of separate embodiments, may also be provided in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features of the invention that are, for brevity, described in the context of a single embodiment, may also be provided separately or in any sub-combination. In addition, references in the singular may also include the plural (for example, “a” and “an” may refer to one, or one or more) unless the context specifically states otherwise.

[0064] The use of numerical values in the various ranges specified in this application, unless expressly indicated otherwise, are stated as approximations as though the minimum and maximum values within the stated ranges were both preceded by the word “about.” In this manner, slight variations above and below the stated ranges can be used to achieve substantially the same results as values within the ranges. Also, the disclosure of these ranges is intended as a continuous range including every value between the minimum and maximum values.

[0065] All patents, patent applications and publications referred to herein are incorporated by reference in their entirety.

[0066] This process aims to combine substrate pre-treatment and localized production, deposition and fixation of substrates (such as fabrics). Fabrics can be natural (cotton, silk, wool and others of a similar nature) or synthetic (polyester, rayon, elastaine and others of a similar nature) in composition.

[0067] Dye production is achieved via use of a microorganism capable of producing pigments with properties desired in a dye. Both natural (non-recombinant) microorganisms capable of producing both intermediate and end point pigments and recombinant microorganisms which have been modified so as to be able to produce either intermediate or end point pigments can be used in this process. Examples include but are not limited to: Serratia spp, Janthinobacter spp., Chromobacterium spp., Bacillus spp., Escherichia spp., Cyanobacterium spp., Pseudomonas spp. As an example, a K12 derivative of E. coli has been modified to produce high quantities of violacein by introducing a plasmid that carries a re-factored violacein operon. The re-factoring includes a re-arrangement of the order of enzyme coding sequences, the addition of ribosome binding sites in front of each coding sequence and codon optimisation of the coding sequences for expression in E. coli.

[0068] Virtually any microorganism which can be genetically modified may be incorporated into this process. The innovative step regarding this process is in the direct application of the microorganism to the substrate in order to facilitate localized dyeing of the substrate.

[0069] Pre-treatment (including substrate modification of any type) occurs via the action of metabolic processes conducted by microorganisms permeating the substrate and by the medium compositions which facilitate these processes. Pre-treatment allows for more effective dye penetration, permeation and fixation in the substrate.

[0070] The pre-treatment step is performed by the microorganism in a wide range of conditions which drive microorganism metabolism via various parameters, such as nutrient content, pH and salinity. The nature of the microorganism employed in this process will dictate the optimum composition of the medium. As an example, Chromobacterium violaceum requires a very different optimal environment than Escherichia coli.

[0071] As an example of embodiment of this invention, a K12 derivative of E. coli which has been modified to produce high quantities of violacein was used to pre-treat the following substrates: silk, wool, rayon, polyester, elastaine, cotton and flax. The medium compositions used to pre-treat the substrate with the above mentioned strain of E. coli include the following base components: carbon source, nitrogen source, amino acid source, metal salt source and water.

[0072] Explanation

[0073] Without wishing to be constrained by theory, we believe the improved adsorption of dye-containing microorganisms into the textile fabric is caused by changes in the morphology of these microorganisms when exposed to a carbon source when this carbon source is beyond a threshold concentration. More specifically, beyond a certain concentration of carbon source the microorganisms become significantly longer and distorted in shape. Longer microorganisms are more likely to become entangled in the fabric yarns whilst contortions along their length means they are harder to be dislodged from their anchoring amongst the fibers. The precise concentration threshold will depend on numerous factors such as the microorganism species, the carbon source used, and operating conditions such as temperature and pH level. Generally speaking we have found the threshold concentration is in the range 10% (v/v) to 60% (v/v), more commonly 20% (v/v) to 40% (v/v).

Figures

[0074] FIG. 1 shows a method for growing and depositing pigments produced by microorganisms according to JP2810287B2. FIG. 1A shows a first step where a single pigment-producing bacteria species (1) is inoculated in a media solution (2). FIG. 1B shows a second step where the bacteria are inoculated in a second media solution (3) for 18 hours at 30° C. FIG. 1C shows a third step where a wool decomposition product (4) is added to the media solution and shaken for five days at 30° C. FIG. 1D shows a fourth step where threads (5) are added to the media solution whilst some of the pigments contained within the microorganisms are released into the media solution (6) by boiling the media solution at 100° C. for 20 minutes. FIG. 1E shows a sixth step where the threads are removed from the dye bath after boiling and washed under running water to remove residual media solution and loose pigments. An unspecified quantity of pigments shall remain in the media solution (7) and attached to the wool decomposition product (8).

[0075] FIG. 2 shows the method for dyeing textiles according to this invention. Before the first dyeing step, dye-producing microorganisms (10) are prepared according to standard microbiology methods. These methods may include techniques such as synthetic biology and genetic engineering. A single colony of the microorganism is inoculated in media solution according to standard methods.

[0076] In a first dyeing step, the dye-producing microorganism (10) is inoculated in a volume of media solution (11) and allowed to grow overnight according to standard microbiology techniques. The resulting culture medium containing high concentrations of dye-containing microorganisms (12) is then supplemented with a volume of media solution (13) and a second volume of carbon source (14). The resulting concentration of carbon source should be in the range 10% (v/v) to 90% (v/v), preferably 15% (v/v) to 60% (v/v), more preferably 20% (v/v) to 40% (v/v). A substrate (15), i.e. fabric or yarn, is added to the culture and incubated overnight according to standard methods.

[0077] After overnight incubation the vast majority of dye-containing microorganisms will be adsorbed into the substrate (16) including the spaces between neighboring fibers. Correspondingly the culture media and carbon source solution (17) shall be substantially bereft of microorganisms.

[0078] In a second dyeing step, the dyed substrate (18) is removed from the culture medium and washed in a water bath (19) to remove residual carbon sources and microorganism detritus from the substrate. Waste wash water, which may contain residual quantities of free microorganisms, can be reused in subsequent dyeing batches or sterilized in a mild bleach or steam autoclave. The dyed substrate is subjected to a heat treatment step such dry ironing (not shown) or steam autoclaving (20) or microwave (not shown). In all cases the applied temperature should be higher than 100° C., preferably 121° C. This second dyeing step performs the dual role of (a) releasing the dye from microorganisms directly onto the substrates onto which the microorganisms have become adsorbed through lysation, and (b) fixing dye release with the lysate onto the substrate. Dye fixation and sterilization of waste wash water can be performed in the same autoclave cycle.

[0079] A washing machine (21) operating using standard settings (for example 40° C. wash using bio detergent) removes lysed microorganisms (22) from the substrate (23) with dye molecules (24) fixed to its fibers. The washed substrate is dried using standard methods (not shown).

[0080] FIG. 3 shows the growth of a microorganism in liquid culture, here E. coli, in a 1% (v/v) concentration of glycerol in 50% (v/v) LB medium and water. E. coli was grown for 24 hours in 50% (v/v) LB medium (10 g NaCl, 5 g Yeast Extract, 1 g Peptone, 1 L water) and 1% (v/v) glycerol. The microorganism has grown successfully and the measured average bacteria length is approximately 3.5 microns.

[0081] FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 show the growth of a microorganism in liquid culture, here E. coli, in a 5% (v/v) concentration of glycerol in 50% (v/v) LB medium and water. E. coli was grown for 24 hours in 50% (v/v) LB medium (10 g NaCl, 5 g Yeast Extract, 1 g Peptone, 1 L water) and 5% (v/v) glycerol. The microorganisms have grown successfully though not as much as the 1% (v/v) concentration. The measured average bacteria length is in the range 4 microns to 5 microns.

[0082] FIG. 6 shows the growth of a microorganism in liquid culture, here E. coli, in a 10% (v/v) concentration of glycerol in 50% (v/v) LB medium and water. E. coli was grown for 24 hours in 50% (v/v) LB medium (10 g NaCl, 5 g Yeast Extract, 1 g Peptone, 1 L water) and 10% (v/v) glycerol. Microorganism growth is substantially lower than the 1% (v/v) case. The measured average microorganism length is 11 microns. Microorganisms have become curved along their length.

[0083] FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 show the growth of a microorganism in liquid culture, here E. coli, in a 20% (v/v) concentration of glycerol in 50% (v/v) LB medium and water. E. coli was grown for 24 hours in 50% (v/v) LB medium (10 g NaCl, 5 g Yeast Extract, 1 g Peptone, 1 L water) and 20% (v/v) glycerol. Microorganism growth is very substantially lower than the 1% (v/v) case. The measured bacteria length is in the range 15 microns to 20 microns. Microorganisms have become substantially curved along their length.

[0084] FIG. 9 to FIG. 11 show the growth of a microorganism in liquid culture, here E. coli, in a 50% (v/v) concentration of glycerol in 50% (v/v) LB medium and water. E. coli was grown for 24 hours in 50% (v/v) LB medium (10 g NaCl, 5 g Yeast Extract, 1 g Peptone, 1 L water) and 50% (v/v) glycerol. Microorganism growth is very substantially lower than the 1% (v/v) case. The measured bacteria length is in the range 10 microns to 15 microns. Microorganisms have become substantially warped along their length.

[0085] Employable Media Additives:

[0086] Medium compositions involved the addition of salts examples of which include, but are not limited to: NaCl, KCl, CaCl2, MgCl2, MnCl2, ZnCl2, alone or in combination. Medium compositions involved the addition of an amino acid source, examples of which include, but are not limited to: Tryptone, Peptone, Bacto-peptone, Casein-amino acids, alone or in combination. Medium compositions involved the addition of a carbon source, examples of which include, but are not limited to: Yeast extract, Sucrose, Glucose, Glycerol, Fructose, Xylose, Lactose, Arabinose, alone or in combination. Medium compositions involved the addition of a nitrogen source, examples of which include, but are not limited to: yeast extract, Tryptone, Peptone, Bacto-peptone, Casein-amino acids, alone or in combination. All of the above medium additives may be employed with varying results, depending on the organism used for the pre-treatment process.

[0087] Growth Conditions:

[0088] Optimal growth conditions vary with the microorganism employed for the pre-treatment process. Parameters which greatly affect the end result include but are not limited to: pH, Salinity and Temperature.

[0089] As an example of the embodiment of this claim, a K12 derivative of E. coli which has been modified to produce high quantities of violacein was used to pre-treat the following substrates: silk, wool, rayon, polyester, elastaine and cotton. Varied growth conditions were tested, with pH ranges between 5-9, salinity ranges of 0.1% to 3%, and temperatures between 20° C. and 42° C. Optimum ranges for these parameters were found to be: pH 5.8-8.2, salinity 0.5%-1.5% and temperature: 30° C. to 40° C.

[0090] Pre-treatment facilitates the interaction between the dye-containing vessel (microorganism) and the substrate (fabric). To achieve this effect, the employed microorganism is grown in a suitable medium (see medium composition above) for a period of 12-48 hours depending on the inoculant-to-inoculate ratio, medium composition employed and growth conditions used. The entire culture is then supplemented with additional medium (see medium composition above) and the substrate is added at this point. Pre-treatment takes place within a similar time frame as the growth period.

[0091] Dye deposition is achieved via localized production and release of the dye by the microorganisms which have permeated the substrate. Increased local concentrations lead to higher dye uptake and the absence of large amounts of free dye in solution lead to a substantially reduced amount of waste product. Dye deposition rates will vary depending on which pigment is being produced as well as what microorganism is being employed.

[0092] These parameters will vary with the cytotoxicity of the pigment produced by the microorganism, the water solubility of the pigment, the pigment affinity for the substrate and the growth conditions employed (see growth conditions above). As an example of embodiment of this claim, a K12 derivative of E. coli which has been modified to produce high quantities of violacein was used to deposit dyes on/in the following substrates: silk, wool, rayon, polyester, elastaine, cotton and flax. Nearly complete penetration and association of the violacein-producing/containing E. coli with the substrate was observed within two hours post substrate addition to the supplemented medium and continues throughout the substrate incubation period.

[0093] Finishing Step:

[0094] A final finishing step is achieved via exposure of the treated substrate to temperatures exceeding 121° C. This has the dual purpose of inactivating all microorganisms present on the substrate as well as fixation of the dye to the substrate.

[0095] The vast majority of dye present in the inactivated microorganism is transferred to the substrate due to lysis. The finishing step then involves a final wash, which removes the vast majority of inactivated microorganisms and microorganism related compounds from the substrate. The final substrate has then been sterilized and cleaned to a standard nearing medical device requirements.

[0096] Waste Products:

[0097] Unincorporated dye (dye waste) is below the industry standard of 3% and a level of incorporation has been achieved by the invented process that surpasses 99.997% efficiency. Spent medium such as the dissolved salts, amino acids and carbon sources, remaining after the dyeing process can be recycled and re-used for subsequent dyeing processes using either the same or a different microbiological dye. Thus via at least two routes—firstly less water use during the initial dyeing process and secondly the ability to re-use spent media solutions without treatment—water use is reduced in the described methods when compared to conventional methods.