Biomaterials | MICOEDEN

natural solutions

Biomaterials are highly innovative products of design that are inspired and equip with
features that are resembled in the assembly and infrastructure of biological systems and
entities found in nature.

Biology is the most sophisticated design and it has proven over millions of years of
evolution of refined adaptions to environmental conditions that nature can offer new
perspectives and remarkable discoveries to our human and environmental issues.

Micoeden is pioneering the field of bio-based materials in Australia. Biomanufacturing is a new category in the industry, we aim to be at the forefront of design and innovation when it comes to efficiency and sustainability.

Existing petro-chemical based materials are bio-accumulative, which cease to break down naturally
and have detrimental effects on the environment releasing harmful pollutants and
compounds during manufacturing, installation and end of life use. In preliminary testing our biomaterials are proving to outperform the existing petrochemical products in thermal and acoustic conductivity as well as fire resistance and improving indoor air quality.

Our biomaterials are not only economically competitive, but safer for builders and home owners using our prefabricated systems. We ensure our ingredients are locally sourced from sustainable waste streams that otherwise would have ended up in landfill. We are able to purchase unwanted bi-products from other industries at the benefit of local suppliers for an affordable cost, keep our overheads low and boosting local economies. Our panel system assures zero wastage of materials, as any offcuts or disassembly's can be fed back into the supply chain.

biomanufacturing

We harness the intertwining binding biotechnology of the mycelium - the vegetative filament root structure of a mushroom.

Preparing the Material

We obtain cellulose waste from Agricultural industry to then clean the biomass by pasteurisation maximise the growth rate of the mycelium by reducing microscopic competitors

Innoculation

Once the base material has been sterilized, it is inoculated with mushroom spawn. The mushroom spawn comes as a block of mycelium and broken into small pieces to ensure even distribution.

Colonisation

Once the substrate has been inoculated, the mycelium grows consuming the substrate as food. Colonization continues until there is no more food (cellulose) for the mycelium or the environment is not longer suitable. The individual threads of hyphae bind the substrate together with the filament root structure.

Growing to a mould

We grow our mycelium to a mould. The inoculated substrate is added inside the moulded shape to grow and colonize the substrate to the desired size and shape.

Curing the product

After a 5-6 days out of direct sunlight, the mycelium is now grown to the pre-moulded shape. Now the final step after removing the mold is to desiccate the product to eliminate the mycelium ability to continue to grow, creating a stable and inert material.