This invention relates to compositions of matter, methods, modules and automated, end-to-end closed instruments for automated mammalian cell growth, reagent bundle creation and mammalian cell transfection followed by nucleic acid-guided nuclease editing in live mammalian cells.

Systems and methods for fractionating whole stillage from an ethanol production facility are provided. Whole stillage undergoes a separation of its liquid portion (thin stillage) from the solid portion (fiber cake). In some embodiments, the solids and liquids in whole stillage may be separated utilizing a screening centrifuge. The fiber cake may be dried to generate a high fiber animal feed. The thin stillage may be provided to a three-phase separator for separation into an oil emulsion, an aqueous clarified stillage, and a protein paste. The protein paste may be dried to generate a high protein animal feed with greater than about 45% protein content. The clarified thin stillage is condensed to yield a syrup with greater than around 60% solids. The oil emulsion is subjected to a pH adjustment to liberate the oil from the emulsion, which is then separated.

Waste, such as municipal solid waste (MSF), is separated into a wet fraction and refuse derived fuel (RDF). For example, the waste may be separated in a press. The wet fraction is treated in an anaerobic digester. The RDF is further separated into a cellulosic fraction and a non-cellulosic fraction. The cellulosic fraction is treated by pyrolysis and produces a pyrolysis liquid. The pyrolysis liquid is added to the anaerobic digester.

A method enhances soil by preparing a microbial solution with microbes, a growth medium, and water; iteratively and selectively breeding generations of microbes to arrive at a predetermined microbial solution in a concentrated form of at least 1×10.sup.7 cfu/ml (colony-forming units per milliliter); adding humic acid with amino acids and protein to support an active microbial population to support active and healthy plant growth; and storing the microbial solution as a solid for enriching the soil with micronutrients, microbial cultures and organic materials.

In an illustrative embodiment, automated multi-module cell editing instruments are provided to automate multiple edits into nucleic acid sequences inside one or more cells.

Methods and systems for producing bio-methanol can include anaerobic digestion of a biomass feedstock to produce biogas including methane and carbon dioxide, partial oxidation of the biogas with oxygen from water electrolysis to produce syngas, synthesizing bio-methanol from the syngas and hydrogen from the water electrolysis, storing the bio-methanol, intermittently using battery based electricity to power the electrolysis during peak electricity demand, and intermittently using renewable electricity from another source during off-peak demand. Electricity can also optionally be obtained by periodically combusting a portion of the bio-methanol. The techniques provide a route for the production of bio-methanol without the engagement of fossil fuels as feedstocks and mitigating fossil fuel derived greenhouse gas emissions from processing and utilization of transportation fuels and commercial or industrial alcohols.

Some aspects of this invention provide methods and bioreactors for converting a carbon source into a lipid. In some embodiments, lipid production is carried out in an aerobic fermentor and carbon dioxide generated during lipid production is converted into a carbon substrate by CO.sub.2 fixation in an anaerobic fermentor. In some embodiments, the carbon substrate generated by CO.sub.2 fixation is used as the carbon source for lipid production, thus achieving total carbon utilization in lipid production.

Systems and methods for fractionating whole stillage from an ethanol production facility are provided. Whole stillage undergoes a separation of its liquid portion (thin stillage) from the solid portion (fiber cake). In some embodiments, the solids and liquids in whole stillage may be separated utilizing a screening centrifuge. The fiber cake may be dried to generate a high fiber animal feed. The thin stillage may be provided to a three-phase separator for separation into an oil emulsion, an aqueous clarified stillage, and a protein paste. The protein paste may be dried to generate a high protein animal feed with greater than about 45% protein content. The clarified thin stillage is condensed to yield a syrup with greater than around 60% solids. The oil emulsion is subjected to a pH adjustment to liberate the oil from the emulsion, which is then separated.

The process for producing organic molecules from fermentable biomass includes a step of anaerobic fermentation (5) producing volatile fatty acids (6), these precursors being transformed into final organic molecules by non-fermentation means. It also includes at least the following steps: a) extracting (9) at least one portion of the volatile fatty acids from the fermentation medium in such a way that the production of fermentation metabolites by the microorganisms (M) is not affected, and introducing a portion of the liquid phase (11) containing microorganisms from the extraction (9), b) synthesizing (13) organic molecules from the fermentation metabolites or from the volatile fatty acids extracted in step a)-c) continuing steps a) to b) until the final molecules are obtained, in terms of amount and quality. The invention also relates to an installation for implementing the process.

Provided is a method for producing and/or purifying measles virus (MV) particles from a sample, the method comprising in sequential order the following steps loading a sample containing MV particles and one or more impurities onto a stationary phase material for carrying out flow-through chromatography to bind at least a fraction of the impurities contained in the sample and to produce a flow-through comprising at least a fraction of the MV particles contained in the sample; carrying out filtration, preferably ultrafiltration, and obtaining a retentate having an increased MV titer relative to the MV titer comprised in the flow-through. Further provided is a system for producing and/or purifying MV particles, comprising at least one bioreactor; a clarification unit, preferably a dead end filter unit, downstream to the bioreactor; a flow through chromatography unit downstream to the clarification unit; and a filtration unit, downstream to the flow through chromatography unit.