The invention features particle removal assemblies and methods for removing dust and other debris from a sample container, e.g., to improve counting colonies of microorganisms (e.g., bacteria, fungi, or protists) present in environmental, pharmaceutical, biological, and other samples. An assembly of the invention includes components for particle removal, e.g., a filter, a dryer, a flow controller, and an outlet. The invention also provides methods of detecting samples after cleaning a sample container with clean and/or dry gas.

A fluid module having a valve node is specified, which includes a base body delimited by an outer surface and having a central fluid space, and at least four fluid channels which are fluidically separated from each other and each open into the central fluid space, wherein at least two valve connections are provided on the outer surface, and wherein a coupling point is provided on the valve node, to which a coupling module is fastened, in which a connection channel is formed, which is fluidically connected to one of the fluid channels in the valve node, and wherein the coupling module includes a coupling valve which selectively unblocks and closes the connection channel. A fluid system having at least two fluid modules, and a method of cleaning a fluid system or a fluid module are furthermore specified.

A microalgae culture broth producing system includes a device for culture broth sterilization using a micro bubble generator, an air compression and pressure equalization device for the injection of carbon dioxide and oxygen in the atmosphere into the culture broth. The system also includes an air chilling device to maintain suitable culture broth temperature when water temperature is too high, an automatic carbon dioxide supply device to promote photosynthesis, and a sealed vertical photobioreactor to block out pollutants and increase dissolved carbon dioxide and oxygen concentration. The system further includes a high-efficiency harvesting device using hollow fiber membranes, and a hot air drying device using the waste heat generated by air compression.

The present invention relates to a photobioreactor 1 for cultivating phototrophic microorganisms, comprising a reactor element 2, which has a tube 3, a maintenance device 4, and a drive system 5, which can move the maintenance device 4 in the tube 3. The photobioreactor is designed such that liquid culture medium 6 containing the microorganisms flows through at least some of the tube 3 when the photobioreactor 1 is in the operating state. The invention is characterised in that the photobioreactor 1 is designed such that the maintenance device 4 can be used in the tube 3 when the photobioreactor 1 is in operating state and can be moved in the tube 3 at least counter to the flow of the culture medium 6 by the drive system 5. The invention also provides a method for cultivating phototrophic microorganisms in a photobioreactor having a movable maintenance device, a movable maintenance device for maintaining the inner surface of a tube of a photobioreactor for cultivating phototrophic microorganisms, and the use thereof during operation of the photobioreactor.

It is possible to efficiently replace a medium, clean spheres, and arrange spheres at regular intervals in the formation of spheres. A member is capable of capturing spheres, the member having a first surface and a second surface on an opposite side of the first surface, and having a plurality of recesses; the recess having an opening formed in the first surface, and one microhole being formed for each opening in the second surface; a circle or inscribed circle of the opening having a diameter a of 50 μm or more and 1 mm or less, a circle or inscribed circle of the microhole having a diameter b of 1 μm or more and less than 200 μm, and a and b satisfying a>b.

Pulse dosing is used to administer a cleaning formulation into a fluid process stream flowing through structural components of a processing facility. The fluid process stream may contain corn, corn-derived products, or a combination thereof, or the fluid process stream may contain a process condensate, a rinse fluid, a cleaning fluid or any combination thereof. The processing facility may be an ethanol processing plant, a protein processing plant, a corn oil processing plant, an ethanol and corn oil processing plant, an ethanol and protein processing plant, or an ethanol, corn oil and protein processing plant. Pulse dosing may include administering the cleaning formulation into the fluid process stream for a period of x seconds every y minutes, with no administration of the cleaning formulation between the periods of x seconds.

A system for detecting the presence of biofilm on an inner surface of a body used for containing a fluid medium. The system includes a transmitter disposed at a first location external to the body, a receiver located at a second location external to the body, and an electronic controller. The electronic controller configured to control the transmitter to transmit an ultrasonic signal in a direction towards the body and receive, via the receiver, an attenuated signal that is the ultrasonic signal after passing through the body. The electronic controller is configured to determine a phase shift between the ultrasonic signal and the attenuated ultrasonic signal, determine an amplitude difference between the ultrasonic signal and the attenuated ultrasonic signal, and generate an indication of an amount of biofilm present on the inner surface of the body based on the phase shift and the amplitude difference.

An apparatus for minimizing dead leg spaces in a container or tubing includes a first member having a flange for attaching the first member to a wall of the container or tubing, the flange having at least one aperture, and a second member rotatably coupled to the first member, the second member having an upper end having at least one aperture, and an open distal end. The second member is rotatable relative to the first member between a closed position where the at least one aperture of the second member is misaligned with the at least one aperture in the flange to prevent the passage of fluid, and an open position where the at least one aperture of the second member is aligned with the at least one aperture in the flange to allow for the passage of fluid.

The invention relates to a liquid supply interface for a cell culture system for supplying cell cultures found in different cell culture containers with a nutrient medium, wherein the liquid supply interface comprises: a housing defining a flow area; a first connection formation for the liquid-transferring connection of a first fluid line to the housing; a second connection formation formed separately from the first for the liquid-transferring connection of a second fluid line to the housing; a third connection formation formed separately from the first two for the liquid-transferring connection of the housing to a third fluid line; a coupling formation formed separately from the connection formations, which is formed for the producible and detachable liquid-transferring coupling contact according to the operation, with a corresponding counter-coupling formation of a cell culture container.

The microorganism preparation feeding method of the invention employs an automatic microorganism preparation feeding apparatus which includes a cold storage apparatus for refrigeration-storing a seed microorganism belonging to the aerobic microorganism group including at least one species of aerobic microorganisms capable of decomposing oil and fat contained in oil/fat-including wastewater and a growth tank for growing the seed microorganism so as to produce the microorganism preparation, wherein the seed microorganism belonging to the aerobic microorganism group is maintained in a live state by means of the cold storage apparatus, the seed microorganism is periodically grown by means of the growth tank so as to produce a predetermined microorganism preparation, and the produced predetermined microorganism preparation is fed to the oil/fat-including wastewater. The method includes refrigeration-storing, as the seed microorganism, a microorganism whose population density is 1×10.sup.7 CFU/mL to 5×10.sup.9 CFU/mL in the cold storage apparatus; growing, as a source material, the seed microorganism of a predetermined volume by means of the growth tank so as to produce the predetermined microorganism preparation whose volume is 50 to 500 times the predetermined volume of the seed microorganism and whose population density is 1×10.sup.7 CFU/mL to 2×10.sup.10 CFU/mL; and feeding the produced microorganism preparation to the oil/fat-including wastewater.