BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a container and a method for production of a biomembrane and, more particularly, to a container and a method of using microorganisms to produce polymer forming a biomembrane. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     On the market, there are various masks for the purpose of satisfying the need to maintain human skin condition. In general, non-woven fabric is used as a base of masks for containing various cosmetics and medicines. This kind of non-woven fabric is not a cloth knit by thread, but it is a fiber material without being knit by textile processes. Therefore, the non-woven fabric has properties of air permeability, hygroscopicity, durability, drug tolerance, insulativity, and so forth. However, due to good hygroscopicity of the non-woven fabric, various active cosmetics and medicines contained therein are exposed in a two-way direction. Hence, the active cosmetics and medicines easily decompose or evaporate so that the masks can not exhibit all their functions. 
     Currently, a biomembrane made of polymer produced by microorganisms has been developed. This kind of biomembrane can be processed into, for example, dietary fibers for eating, masks for skin maintenance, and so on. The biomembrane has high water absorption so as to carry large amounts of nutrients. If the biomembrane is manufactured into a mask, the mask can supply nutrition for skin. Besides, the biomembrane has lots of advantageous properties of, for example, having free functional groups which can absorb dirt of skin. 
     In order to avoid covering organs such as the eyes, the nose, the mouth etc. on the face of the user otherwise resulting in being incapable of watching, smelling, eating, or talking, masks made of conventional non-woven fabric or made of biomembrane are all processed to form predetermined holes so that the user aforementioned requirements can be satisfied. However, formation of the predetermined holes needs die cutting that incurs complex steps of manufacturing and edge impairment of masks or predetermined holes. Accordingly, the yield of the masks is leveled down so that the costs of the production for the masks are raised. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the abovementioned shortcomings, one object of the present invention is to provide a container for production of a biomembrane which does not need the shape thereof to be changed. Besides, the containers can be stacked up vertically so as to get more horizontal space for production. The vertically stacked-up containers still have good airflow thereinto. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a method for production of a biomembrane. Through microbial strains naturally producing polymers such as polysaccharide, polyglutamate etc. in a predetermined container, a biomembrane can be formed to have a shape according to the predetermined container. Additionally, when the biomembrane is processed into a mask, no processes for changing the biomembrane are required. Therefore, the yield of the masks is raised. In another way, the manufactured mask can be used for skin maintenance and moisture supply to skin. 
     In order to achieve the object, a container for culturing a biomembrane is provided in the present invention, which includes a bottom plate; a sidewall disposed on the bottom plate and surrounding the periphery of the bottom plate to form an inner space; and at least one protrusion locating on the surface of the bottom plate. 
     In the abovementioned container, the sidewall has a recessive brink and a prominent brink, the recessive brink is at the upper part of the sidewall, and the prominent brink is at the lower part of the sidewall. Besides, plural holes are defined in the upper surface of the sidewall, and plural pins corresponding to the holes are placed on the lower surface of the sidewall. If the containers are vertically stacked up one by one, horizontal space for culturing can be economized. Additionally, through the pins inserting into the holes or the prominent brink corresponding to the recessive brink, the containers stacked up can be more stable and not easily be loosened to collapse. The depth of the holes can be equal to or less than the height of the pins. Furthermore, the cross-section of the upper part of the pins can be equal to or greater than that of the pins. 
     Moreover, plural recesses locate on the outer surface of the sidewall, and those are not limited in any shape. The shape of the sidewall surrounding the periphery of the bottom plate is not limited to, but preferably is circular, elliptic, polygonal, irregular, or oval. The protrusion is not limited to, but preferably is columnar, taper, or sheeted. Additionally, the protrusion can be placed in any position of the container. Preferably, the protrusion can be arranged by way of corresponding to the facial features of a person, i.e. eyes, nose, mouth and so forth. The bottom plate can be planar or not planar, the latter means the bottom plate is a cambered surface. 
     In the abovementioned container, the protrusion can be formed by indenting from the outside surface of the bottom plate to the inside surface of the bottom plate. Hence, the material of the container can be economized by way of the above-mentioned method. Besides, the material of the container is not limited to, but preferably is transparent or nontransparent organic material (such as PVC, PP, and PE) or an anti-oxidative metal. The surface of the container can be selectively coated with PEP. 
     Furthermore, the present invention also discloses a method for production of a biomembrane, which includes the following steps: (a) providing a first medium and a microbial strain therein, and shaking them to form a seed culture; (b) putting the seed culture into a container having a second medium, and the container comprising a bottom plate, a sidewall disposed on the bottom plate and surrounding the periphery of the bottom plate, and at least one protrusion locating on the surface of the bottom plate to form an inner space; and (c) culturing the seed culture until a biomembrane having a predetermined thickness is formed. 
     In the abovementioned method of the present invention, the microbial strain preferably is  Acetobacter  spp.,  Gluconacetobacter  spp.,  Xanthomonas  spp., or  Bacillus  spp. More preferably, the microbial strain of the  Acetobacter  spp. is  A. xylinum ; the microbial strain of the  Gluconacetobacter  spp. is  G. xylinus  subsp.  Xylinus , or  G. Hansenii ; the microbial strain of the  Xanthomonas  spp. is  X. camperastris ; and the microbial strain of the  Bacillus  spp. is  B. substilis  var Natto. 
     Additionally, the first medium and the second medium comprise a carbohydrate, an N-containing compound, a mineral, and a growth cofactor. The content of the carbohydrate, the N-containing compound, the mineral, and the growth cofactor preferably is 1˜30%, 0.16%, 0.05˜3%, and 0.05˜2%, respectively. The carbohydrate is not limited to, but preferably is at least one selected from monosaccharide, disaccharides, polysaccharides, or carboxyl-containing compounds. The N-containing compound is not limited to, but preferably is at least one selected from yeast extract, peptone, soybean powders, or gelatin. The mineral is not limited to, but preferably is at least one selected from chloride salt, ammonium salt, sulfide salt, potassium salt, phosphate, magnesium salt, or sodium salt. The growth cofactor is not limited to, but preferably is at least one selected from vitamin, nicotinic acid, citric acid, or the derivatives thereof. 
     In order to obtain large-scaled seed culture for production, the method disclosed in the present invention can further comprise a step (a1): amplifying the seed culture to afford great amount of seed culture for mass production after the step (a) is achieved. 
     The biomembrane manufactured by the method of the present invention can be processed into a facial mask, an eye mask, a chested mask, or a lip mask. The above-mentioned masks can efficiently provide water to maintain skin condition. Additionally, these masks are not required to change their shape by subsequent steps because the biomembrane in the present invention can be formed in the final shape. Furthermore, the biomembrane of the present invention does not have shortcomings of conventional masks being required to change shape thereof. Hence, the biomembrane in the present invention can have good yield without impairment due to the process of changing shape. 
     Other objects, advantages, and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1   a  is a perspective view of a container for production of a biomembrane in the present invention; 
         FIG. 1   b  is a perspective view of a container when production of a biomembrane occurs in the example of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a container when production of a biomembrane occurs in the example of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a container when production of a biomembrane occurs in the example of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a container when production of a biomembrane occurs in the example of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a top view of a biomembrane produced from the examples of the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  is a chart of biocellulose production among examples 1 to 30 in the present invention; and 
         FIG. 7  is a chart of biocellulose production among examples 31 to 60 in the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     In the following examples, the microbial strain used in the present invention is  Acetobacter  spp.,  Gluconacetobacter  spp.,  Xanthomonas  spp., or  Bacillus  spp. In the  Acetobacter  spp.,  A. xylinum  is used; in the  Acetobacter  spp.,  G. xylinus  subsp.  Xylinus  ATTC 10821,  G. xylinus  subsp.  Xylinus  ATTC 700187, or  G. Hansenii  ATTC 23769 are used; in the  Xanthomonas  spp.,  X. camperastris  is used; and in the  Bacillus  spp.,  B. substilis  var Natto is used. In the above mentioned, although  A. xylinum  is not named as  G. xylinus , they are the same microorganism. 
     The mediums used in the method of the present invention comprise a carbohydrate, an N-containing compound, a mineral, and a growth cofactor. In the following examples, the content of the carbohydrate is 1˜30%; the content of the N-containing compound is 0.1˜6%; the content of the mineral is 0.05˜3%; and the content of the growth cofactor is 0.05˜2%. Besides, at least one of monosaccharide, disaccharides, polysaccharides, and carboxyl-containing compounds is used as the carbohydrate; at least one of yeast extract, peptone, soybean powders, and gelatin is used as the N-containing compound; at least one of chloride salt, ammonium salt, sulfide salt, potassium salt, phosphate, magnesium salt, and sodium salt is used as the mineral; and at least one of vitamin, nicotinic acid, citric acid, and the derivatives thereof is used as the growth cofactor. 
     In the method of the present invention, which shape of the container is used is in view of the required biomembrane shape, for example, if a rectangular biomembrane is required, the cuboid container can be used, or if a circular biomembrane is required, the cylindrical container can be used. In the following examples, the container used therein is as shown in  FIGS. 1   a ˜ 4 , but is not limited to. The container can be made of PVC, PP, PE, or antioxidative metals. Besides, the container can be selectively coated with PEP. PEP is a high molecular weight rust-preventing membrane, and that can prevent corrosive gas from permeating by coating the container and neutralizing the permeating corrosive gas. 
     Examples 1-30 
     About 1˜5 loops of  A. xylinum  are transferred from the slant culture to a sterile liquid medium (as the following Table 1). The liquid medium is cultured for 13 days at 37° C. by shaking, and then amplified with 2˜30-folds sterile liquid medium. This amplification can be performed for 1˜2 days in a fermenting tank or a shaking incubator so as to obtain seed culture for large-scaled production. 
     
       
         
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
                 TABLE 1 
               
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 Components 
                 Content (%) 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 Glucose 
                 2 
               
               
                   
                 Peptone 
                 1 
               
               
                   
                 Yeast extract 
                 1 
               
               
                   
                 Citric acid 
                 0.1 
               
               
                   
                 Sodium biphosphate 
                 0.3 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     The container for culturing used in the present examples is shown in  FIG. 1   a . The container a bottom plate  11 ; a sidewall  12  disposed on the bottom plate  11  and surrounding the periphery of the bottom plate  11 , wherein an inner space is surrounded by the sidewall  12  and the bottom plate  11 ; and at least one protrusion  13  locating on the surface of the bottom plate  11 . The protrusion  13  mentioned above can be in any shape, for example, the first protrusion  132  is an elliptic cylinder; the second protrusion  133  is a cone; and the third protrusion  133  is a leaf-shaped pillar. Besides, the protrusion  13  can be placed in any location in accordance with the shape of the required biomembrane. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1   b , about 1%˜50% of the seed culture is mixed with the culture medium in Table 2 and that is cultured in the inner space of the above-mentioned container. A biomembrane  20  is formed in a shape according to that of the container. At a constant temperature, the biomembrane  20  is cultured until it has a predetermined thickness. Then, the biomembrane  20  is taken out. As shown in  FIG. 5 , the biomembrane  20  have several openings  232 ,  233 , and  234  respectively corresponding to the first protrusion  132 , the second protrusion  133 , and the third protrusion  133 . 
     
       
         
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 2 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                 Component 
                 Example 
               
             
          
           
               
                 (%) 
                 1 
                 2 
                 3 
                 4 
                 5 
                 6 
                 7 
                 8 
                 9 
                 10 
                 11 
                 12 
                 13 
                 14 
                 15 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 Peptone 
                 1 
               
               
                 MgSO 4   
                 0.1 
               
               
                 Yeast 
                 1 
               
               
                 extract 
               
             
          
           
               
                 CaCO 3   
                 0 
                 0.1 
                 0.3 
               
             
          
           
               
                 Glucose 
                 2.5 
                 5 
                 10 
                 20 
                 30 
                 2.5 
                 5 
                 10 
                 20 
                 30 
                 2.5 
                 5 
                 10 
                 20 
                 30 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 Component 
                 Example 
               
             
          
           
               
                 (%) 
                 16 
                 17 
                 18 
                 19 
                 20 
                 21 
                 22 
                 23 
                 24 
                 25 
                 26 
                 27 
                 28 
                 29 
                 30 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 Peptone 
                 1 
               
               
                 MgSO 4   
                 0.1 
               
               
                 Yeast 
                 1 
               
               
                 extract 
               
             
          
           
               
                 CaCO 3   
                 0 
                 0.1 
                 0.3 
               
             
          
           
               
                 Glucose 
                 2.5 
                 5 
                 10 
                 20 
                 30 
                 2.5 
                 5 
                 10 
                 20 
                 30 
                 2.5 
                 5 
                 10 
                 20 
                 30 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     Through tests of the examples 1˜30, the result is shown in  FIG. 6 . In accordance with the formation weight of the biomembrane  20 , the culture medium comprising 1% yeast extract, 0.1% CaCO 3 , and 2.5% glucose can be an optimal medium to culture a biomembrane having an optimal production weight. 
     Examples 31˜60 
     About 15 loops of  A. xylinum  are transferred from the slant culture to a sterile liquid medium (as Table 1 in Examples 1˜30). The liquid medium is cultured for 13 days at 37° C. by shaking, and then amplified with 2˜30-folds sterile liquid medium. This amplification can be performed for 1˜2 days in a fermenting tank or a shaking incubator so as to obtain seed culture for large-scaled production. 
     In the present examples, the container used therein is as shown in  FIG. 2 , and approximately is similar to the container shown in  FIG. 1   a . However, the container in the  FIG. 2  has plural holes  123  through the upper surface of the sidewall  12 , and plural pins  124  on the lower surface of the sidewall  12 . The pins  124  are placed through corresponding holes  123 . 
     About 1%˜50% of the seed culture is mixed with the culture medium in Table 2 and that is cultured in the inner space of the above-mentioned container. Besides, the containers can be vertically stacked up one by one. Through the pins  124  inserting into the holes  123 , the stacked up containers can become a stable vertical structure. Additionally, the stacked up containers does not easily collapse or become loosened. Hence, the horizontal space for production can be economized. A biomembrane  20  is formed in a shape according to that of the container. At a constant temperature, the biomembrane  20  is cultured until the biomembrane  20  have a predetermined thickness. Then, the biomembrane  20  as shown in  FIG. 5  is taken out. 
     
       
         
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 3 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                 Component 
                 Example 
               
             
          
           
               
                 (%) 
                 31 
                 32 
                 33 
                 34 
                 35 
                 36 
                 37 
                 38 
                 39 
                 40 
                 41 
                 42 
                 43 
                 44 
                 45 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 Peptone 
                 1 
               
               
                 MgSO 4   
                 0.1 
               
               
                 Yeast 
                 0.5 
               
               
                 extract 
               
             
          
           
               
                 CaCO 3   
                 0 
                 0.1 
                 0.3 
               
             
          
           
               
                 Glucose 
                 2.5 
                 5 
                 10 
                 20 
                 30 
                 2.5 
                 5 
                 10 
                 20 
                 30 
                 2.5 
                 5 
                 10 
                 20 
                 30 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 Component 
                 Example 
               
             
          
           
               
                 (%) 
                 46 
                 47 
                 48 
                 49 
                 50 
                 51 
                 52 
                 53 
                 54 
                 55 
                 56 
                 57 
                 58 
                 59 
                 60 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 Peptone 
                 1 
               
               
                 MgSO 4   
                 0.1 
               
               
                 Yeast 
                 0.5 
               
               
                 extract 
               
             
          
           
               
                 CaCO 3   
                 0 
                 0.1 
                 0.3 
               
             
          
           
               
                 Glucose 
                 2.5 
                 5 
                 10 
                 20 
                 30 
                 2.5 
                 5 
                 10 
                 20 
                 30 
                 2.5 
                 5 
                 10 
                 20 
                 30 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     Through tests of the examples 31˜60, the result is shown in  FIG. 7 . In accordance with the formation weight of the biomembrane  20 , the culture medium comprising 0.5% yeast extract, 2% CaCO 3 , and 5% glucose can be an optimal medium to culture a biomembrane having a best production weight. 
     Examples 61˜63 
     About 15 loops of  G. xylinus  subsp.  Xylinus  ATTC 10821,  G. xylinus  subsp.  Xylinus  ATTC 700187, and  G. Hansenii  ATCC 23769 are transferred from the slant culture to a sterile liquid medium (as the following Table 4). The liquid medium is cultured for 1˜3 days at 37° C. by shaking, and then amplified with 2˜30-folds sterile liquid medium. This amplification can be performed for 1˜2 days in a fermenting tank or a shaking incubator so as to obtain seed culture for large-scaled production. 
     In the present examples, the container used therein is as shown in  FIG. 3 , and approximately is similar to the container shown in  FIG. 2 . However, the sidewall  12  of the container in the  FIG. 3  has a recessive brink  121  at the upper part thereof, and a prominent brink  122  at the lower part thereof. Besides, the upper-portion cross-section of the pins  124  is greater than the cross-section of the holes  123 . 
     About 1%˜50% of the seed culture is mixed with the culture medium in Table 2 and that is cultured in the inner space of the above-mentioned container. Although  FIG. 3  shows that the recessive brink  121  and the prominent brink  122  are placed in the inside of the sidewall  12 , those also can be placed in the outside of the sidewall  12 . Hence, the container can be vertically stacked up one by one through the recessive brink  121  and the prominent brink  122  correspondingly inserted with each other. 
     Besides, the container also can be vertically stacked up one by one as shown in  FIG. 3 . Through the pins  124  inserting into the holes  123 , there is a vertical gap between neighboring containers. Hence, air can ventilate the container to promote the biomembrane growth. A biomembrane  20  is formed in a shape according to that of the container. At a constant temperature, the biomembrane  20  is cultured until the biomembrane  20  has a predetermined thickness. Then, the biomembrane  20  as shown in  FIG. 5  is taken out. 
     
       
         
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
                 TABLE 4 
               
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 Component 
                 Content (%) 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 Glucose 
                 2 
               
               
                   
                 Peptone 
                 1 
               
               
                   
                 Yeast extract 
                 1 
               
               
                   
                 CaCO 3   
                 0.5 
               
               
                   
                 MgSO 4   
                 0.1 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     Example 64 
     About 1˜5 loops of  X. campeastris  are transferred from the slant culture to a sterile liquid medium (as the following Table 5). The liquid medium is cultured for 1˜3 days at 37° C. by shaking, and then amplified with 2˜30-folds sterile liquid medium. This amplification can be performed for 1˜2 days in a fermenting tank or a shaking incubator so as to obtain seed culture for large-scaled production. 
     
       
         
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
                 TABLE 5 
               
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 Component 
                 Content (%) 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 Glucose 
                 4 
               
               
                   
                 Fructose 
                 2 
               
               
                   
                 Peptone 
                 2 
               
               
                   
                 Yeast extract 
                 2 
               
               
                   
                 Citric acid 
                 0.2 
               
               
                   
                 Potassium biphosphate 
                 0.2 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     In the present examples, the container used therein is as shown in  FIG. 4 , and approximately is similar to the container shown in  FIG. 2 . However, the sidewall  12  has plural recesses  125  on the outer surface thereof. Besides, the recesses  125  are not limited to be formed on all the outer surface of the sidewall  12 , but also can be formed on one, two, or three outer surfaces thereof. 
     About 1%˜50% of the seed culture is mixed with the culture medium in Table 2 and that is cultured in the inner space of the above-mentioned container. Besides, the container also can be vertically stacked up one by one as shown in  FIG. 3 . Hence, air can ventilate the container to promote the biomembrane growth through the recesses  125 . A biomembrane  20  is formed in a shape according to that of the container. At a constant temperature, the biomembrane  20  is cultured until the biomembrane  20  have a predetermined thickness. Then, the biomembrane  20  as shown in  FIG. 5  is taken out. 
     Example 65 
     About 15 loops of  B. subtilis  var Natto are transferred from the slant culture to a sterile liquid medium (as Table 5 of Example 65). The liquid medium is cultured for 13 days at 37° C. by shaking, and then amplified with 2˜30-folds sterile liquid medium. This amplification can be performed for 1˜2 days in a fermenting tank or a shaking incubator so as to obtain seed culture for large-scaled production. 
     In the present examples, the containers used therein are as shown in  FIGS. 1˜4 . About 1%˜50% of the seed culture is mixed with the culture medium in Table 2 and that is cultured in the inner space of the above-mentioned containers. A biomembrane  20  is formed in a shape according to that of the container. The biomembrane  20  is cultured at a constant temperature until the biomembrane  20  has a predetermined thickness. Then, the biomembrane  20  as shown in  FIG. 5  is taken out. 
     The biomembranes prepared above in Example 1˜65 are pretreated with alkaline solution, and treated with acidic solution. Then, the biomembranes are processed by conventional steps for biomembranes in the field such as boiling, washing etc. and then subjected to following processes of making masks such as sterilization, addition of efficient compositions, packaging, marking, and so on. Hence, biological masks with efficient compositions can be formed. 
     During manufacturing, the biomembranes made by the method of the present invention are not required to change in shape by subsequent steps such as molding, cutting, and so forth. Furthermore, the biomembrane of the present invention does not have shortcomings of conventional masks being required to change in shape. Hence, the biomembrane in the present invention can have good yield without impairment due to the process of changing shape. Additionally, the cost of manufacturing can be economized due to not generating any waste. 
     Because of the specific embodiments illustrating the practice of the present invention, a person having ordinary skill in the art can easily understand other advantages and efficiency of the present invention through the content disclosed therein. The present invention can also be practiced or applied by other variant embodiments. Many other possible modifications and variations of any detail in the present specification based on different outlooks and applications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. 
     Although the present invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.
A method and a container for production of a biomembrane are disclosed in the present invention. The biomembrane produced in the method and in the container of the present invention can be processed into a mask, wherein processes for changing the shape of the biomembrane are unnecessary. The mask produced from the biomembrane can be efficient to maintain the skin, and to supply the moisture thereto.