Waste Rose Flower and Lavender Straw Biomass—An Innovative Lignocellulose Feedstock for Mycelium Bio-Materials Development Using Newly Isolated Ganoderma resinaceum GA1M

Author: mycolabadmin
10/15/2021
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Summary

Researchers developed eco-friendly building materials by growing mushroom mycelium (Ganoderma resinaceum) on waste residues from rose and lavender essential oil production. These waste biomasses, typically discarded or burned, were successfully converted into biocomposites with properties comparable to hempcrete and other sustainable materials. The resulting mycelium-based materials are completely natural, biodegradable, and possess antimicrobial and aromatic properties, offering a promising sustainable alternative to synthetic materials.

Background

Rose and lavender essential oil production generates significant waste biomass annually, with over 20,000 tons of steam distilled lavender straw and 29,000 tons of rose flower residues produced in Bulgaria alone. These lignocellulose-rich byproducts are typically incinerated or discarded despite their potential value. Recent research has explored using various lignocellulose wastes as substrates for mycelium-based biocomposites, offering sustainable alternatives to synthetic materials.

Objective

To investigate the potential of hexane extracted rose flowers (HERF) and steam distilled lavender straw (SDLS) as feeding substrates for cultivation of newly isolated Ganoderma resinaceum GA1M to develop mycelium-based biocomposites. The study aimed to characterize the chemical composition of these waste biomasses and assess their ability to support mycelium growth with improved antibacterial and aromatic properties.

Results

SDLS contained higher cellulose (38.16 g/100g DW) and lignin (24.48 g/100g DW) content compared to HERF, while HERF had higher uronic acids (8.95 vs 3.54 g/100g DW) and polyphenol content (5.70 vs 1.14 g/100g DW). HERF-based biocomposites achieved higher apparent density (462 kg/m³) and compressive resistance (1029 kPa) compared to SDLS-based composites (347 kg/m³ and 718 kPa respectively). Both biocomposites exhibited hydrophilic properties with water absorption increasing over 28 days immersion.

Conclusion

Waste rose flower and lavender straw biomass demonstrates significant potential as feedstock for developing mycelium-based biocomposites with improved antibacterial and aromatic properties. The density and compressive strength values are comparable to hempcrete and other sustainable building materials. Further research is needed to reduce hydrophilicity, optimize density, and improve compressive resistance for practical applications.

Published in:Journal of Fungi (Basel),
Study Type:Experimental Research,
Source: PMID: 34682287, DOI: 10.3390/jof7100866