A method and system for high rate acidification and organic solids solubilization of feedstocks such as municipal source separated organics, municipal sewage sludge, and various industrial organic wastes are disclosed. The method and system feature a completely mixed bioreactor containing hydrogen-producing microorganisms, a crossflow membrane unit or membrane module located downstream of the bioreactor, a storage tank for receiving concentrated microorganisms from the membrane unit or module, and a connection that recirculates desired quantities of biomass from the storage tank to the bioreactor. This configuration decouples the solids residence time (SRT) from the hydraulic retention time (HRT) and results in a high solubilization rate.

An inclined reactor of bottom gas-inlet type for aerobic fermentation and a method for aerobic fermentation are provided, a fermenter is provided with a circular inner tank, end covers and a jacket; an airtight fermentation space is formed in the fermenter by the inner tank, an upper end cover and a lower end cover; a feed opening and an exhaust outlet are arranged at an upper part of the fermenter, and a discharge opening is arranged at a lower part of the lower end cover of the fermenter; a length of the fermenter is greater than or equal to a diameter of the fermenter, the fermenter is fixed on a base having a height difference and is hence in an inclined state; an energy-saving stirrer is mounted in the fermenter, and the energy-saving stirrer is formed by connecting several groups of tangential plates or a spiral combination of tangential plates, a radial rod, a stirring rod and a stirring shaft; several groups of air chambers are arranged at an external wall at the bottom of the inner tank of the fermenter, the air chambers are arranged inside the jacket, several aeration nozzles are defined on an inner side of each air chamber, and the aeration nozzles are close to the inner tank.

An inclined reactor of bottom gas-inlet type for aerobic fermentation and a method for aerobic fermentation are provided, a fermenter is provided with a circular inner tank, end covers and a jacket; an airtight fermentation space is formed in the fermenter by the inner tank, an upper end cover and a lower end cover; a feed opening and an exhaust outlet are arranged at an upper part of the fermenter, and a discharge opening is arranged at a lower part of the lower end cover of the fermenter; a length of the fermenter is greater than or equal to a diameter of the fermenter, the fermenter is fixed on a base having a height difference and is hence in an inclined state; an energy-saving stirrer is mounted in the fermenter, and the energy-saving stirrer is formed by connecting several groups of tangential plates or a spiral combination of tangential plates, a radial rod, a stirring rod and a stirring shaft; several groups of air chambers are arranged at an external wall at the bottom of the inner tank of the fermenter, the air chambers are arranged inside the jacket, several aeration nozzles are defined on an inner side of each air chamber, and the aeration nozzles are close to the inner tank.

Embodiments of the invention relate generally to processes for the production and processing of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) from carbon sources. In several embodiments, PHAs are produced at high efficiencies from carbon-containing gases or materials.

Embodiments of the invention relate generally to processes for the production and processing of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) from carbon sources. In several embodiments, PHAs are produced at high efficiencies from carbon-containing gases or materials.

A method for producing H.sub.2, methane, VFAs and alcohols from organic material, including the steps of introducing organic material and microorganisms into a completely mixed bioreactor for producing H.sub.2, CO.sub.2, VFAs, and alcohols; recovering H2 and CO2; recovering a first liquid effluent including microorganisms, VFAs, and alcohols; introducing the first liquid effluent into a gravity settler for separating into a first biomass including microorganisms and a second liquid effluent including VFAs, alcohols and microorganisms; introducing the second liquid effluent into a separation module for separating into a second biomass including microorganisms and a third liquid effluent including VFAs and alcohols; recovering at least a portion of the third liquid effluent; and providing a recovered biomass by recovering at least a portion of the first biomass, the second biomass, or both, and introducing the recovered biomass into a biomethanator for production of CH.sub.4 and CO.sub.2.

There is provided a mixed culture of a first and second microorganism in an aqueous medium, wherein the first microorganism is an acetogenic microorganism capable of converting a carbon source comprising CO and/or CO.sub.2 to acetate and/or ethanol, the second microorganism is a non-acetogenic microorganism capable of metabolising acetate and/or ethanol and the first and second microorganisms are in a homogenous mixture and wherein the aqueous medium comprises oxygen. There is also provided a method of producing substituted and/or unsubstituted organic compounds using the mixed culture.

The present invention provides a method of reducing and controlling a hazardous substance in a process of high-value biological conversion of an urban organic waste. The method includes: 1) mixing a sludge, a first urban organic waste and an organic acid with water for acclimation to obtain an acclimatized sludge; 2) stage 1 of biological conversion: mixing the acclimatized sludge with a second urban organic waste to perform anaerobic culture; 3) stage 2 of biological conversion: adding nitrate and bacteria to continue anaerobic culture so as to obtain an organic acid. In the present invention, sludge microbes are acclimatized and then added to high-value chemicals such as acetic acid, propanoic acid and lactic acid prepared in biological conversion of the urban organic waste and then added with bacteria. Thus, by controlling pH value, microbe addition amount and nitrate concentration, the unfavorable effect of the antibiotics and heavy metal ions.

The present invention relates to a method for producing a vitamin- and protein-rich product, to a food product containing the vitamin- and protein-rich product, and to a nutrient medium appropriate for said method on the basis of agricultural tributaries or food tributaries.

The present invention relates to a method for producing a vitamin- and protein-rich product, to a food product containing the vitamin- and protein-rich product, and to a nutrient medium appropriate for said method on the basis of agricultural tributaries or food tributaries.