The present invention provides an intestinal flora extraction vessel for extracting an intestinal flora from feces, the vessel including: a vessel main body with a first opening portion and a second opening portion formed therein, the vessel main body being configured so as to be deformable; an opening/closing mechanism configured to open/close the first opening portion of the vessel main body; a filter member accommodated in the vessel main body and partitioning the vessel main body into a first region located on the side of the first opening portion and a second region located on the side of the second opening portion, the filter member being configured to filter off the intestinal flora from the feces; and a communication member attached to the second opening portion, and configured to allow the second region to be in communication with the outside of the vessel main body.

Algae harvesting and cultivating systems and methods for producing high concentrations of algae product with minimal energy. In an embodiment, an algae harvesting method is provided for performing dead-end filtration in an algae harvesting system having at least one treatment tank defining a plurality of filtration stages including at least a first filtration stage and a second filtration stage. An algae medium is pulled through the hollow fiber membranes such that a retentate and a permeate are produced.

According to present disclosure, there is disclosed an algae growth and cultivation system that provides a cost-efficient means of producing algae biomass as feedstock for algae-based products, such as, fertilizer, feed, biofuel manufacture, and desirably impacts, nutrient recovery from waste streams for valued byproducts production, recycle water, and alternative/renewable energy production. The system as discussed herein is an integrated systems approach to wastewater treatment, algal strains selection for byproducts production, and recycle of algal biomass-processing waste or additional algae harvested as feedstock for products such as fertilizer production. Embodiments of a system as discussed herein present an economically viable algae production system and process that allows algae-derived products such as fertilizer, feed, biofuels, etc. to compete with non-organic or petroleum products in the marketplace.

The invention is directed to a peristaltic pump (10), comprising: a flexible membrane (1) forming a at least one bladder (2) against a support, wherein each bladder is provided with one input orifice (4) which admits a fluid to the bladder (2) and one outlet orifice (5) which releases the fluid from the bladder (2); and at least one roller bearing (6) is configured to rotate about an axis (7) and to apply a compressive force against the at least one bladder (2). The peristaltic pump may be in fluid communication with a tapered jet (11).

Algae harvesting and cultivating systems and methods for producing high concentrations of algae product with minimal energy. In an embodiment, a dead-end filtration system and method includes at least one tank and a plurality hollow fiber membranes positioned in the at least one tank. An algae medium is pulled through the hollow fiber membranes such that a retentate and a permeate are produced.

A container for collecting a biological specimen is provided that includes a peripheral wall extending from a base. The container further includes a longitudinal tower disposed within the container. The tower forms a partition within the container to form at least a first chamber and a second chamber therein, wherein the first and second chambers are in fluid communication with one another. In addition, the container includes an insert disposed within the container opposite the base, the insert comprising at least a first opening and a second opening. The second opening provides access to the second chamber and is further configured to engage a specimen collecting device to leave a portion of the specimen collecting device within the second chamber. The first opening provides access to the first chamber and is further configured to receive a syringe therein for accessing the biological specimen. Associated systems and methods are also provided.

Algae harvesting and cultivating systems and methods for producing high concentrations of algae product with minimal energy. In an embodiment, a dead-end filtration system and method includes at least one tank and a plurality hollow fiber membranes positioned in the at least one tank. An algae medium is pulled through the hollow fiber membranes such that a retentate and a permeate are produced.

Biomass (e.g., plant biomass, animal biomass, and municipal waste biomass) is processed to produce useful products, such as fuels. For example, systems are described that can use feedstock materials, such as cellulosic and/or lignocellulosic materials, to produce ethanol and/or butanol, e.g., by fermentation.

The method and system for processing meal from oilseeds after oil extraction includes biotransformation of meal and its cascade, sequential refining leading to the separation of the product or products with high added value, and finally obtaining the remaining biomass with an increased nutritional value compared to the original post-extraction meal material.

Biogas production from the anaerobic digestion of juice in an ethanol production plant is maximized by mixing a juice containing thin stillage and/or water with a concentrated syrup prior to the anaerobic digestion. The juice then can be mixed with a biomass such as corn meal and enzymes to form a slurry suitable for fermentation. Sufficient syrup is mixed into the juice to provide a BOD concentration in the juice between 100,000 and 150,000 ppm. Enough biogas can be produced to supply enough energy to meet all of the boiler steam production/distillation energy/electrical generation demands for the ethanal production plant with some excess biogas left over for other uses.