A bioreactor is provided that includes a main reactor having a configuration selected from the group consisting of stirred and unstirred tank reactor, trickle bed reactor (TBR), cocurrent contactor (CCC), moving bed bioreactor (MBBR), and a bubble column reactor. The bioreactor also includes a growth reactor continuous with the main reactor and having a configuration selected from the group consisting of stirred and unstirred tank reactor, trickle bed reactor (TBR), cocurrent contactor (CCC), moving bed bioreactor (MBBR), and a bubble column reactor. A method is also provided where acetogenic bacteria are contacted with syngas in a growth fermentor section of a reactor vessel that is continuous with a main fermentor section of a reactor vessel.

The invention relates to a ventilation element for the introduction of a gas into a liquid, having at least one gas port, having at least one carrier plate and having at least one elastically deformable diaphragm which is connected to the at least one gas port and/or to the at least one carrier plate. A space that can be formed between the at least one diaphragm and the at least one carrier plate is connected in terms of flow to the gas port. The at least one carrier plate has a multiplicity of gas outlet openings, and at least one diaphragm is composed at least in sections of a material with a lower density than water, or is equipped with at least one float body which has a lower density than water.

An aquaculture environment control system comprising a plurality of discharge conduits positioned in a vessel, the discharge conduits including one or more orifices; a fluid source in fluid communication with the plurality of discharge conduits; a gas supply source in fluid communication with at least one of the plurality of discharge conduits; wherein discharging fluid from the plurality of discharge conduits into the vessel creates or maintains a current throughout fluid present within the vessel. A method of controlling an aquaculture environment comprising supplying one or more of a fluid and a gas to a plurality of discharge conduits positioned in a vessel; and discharging the one or more of the fluid and the gas from at least one of the plurality of discharge conduits to the vessel, the discharging creating or maintaining a current within the vessel.

A mixing bag for use in bioprocessing in which a fluid is received and agitated using an internal fluid-agitating element driven by an external motive device is disclosed. The bag may include an integral sparger and sensor receiver. Related methods are also disclosed.

A sparger assembly for a bioprocessing system includes a first layer having a plurality of pores of a first size, and a second layer disposed above the first layer and having a plurality of holes of a second size, the second size being greater than the first size. The pores of the first layer and the holes of the second layer allow for the passage of a sparge gas through the first layer and the second layer.

An apparatus for generating and mixing gas bubbles into an aqueous solution includes a structure defining an interior fluid-flow chamber extending along a longitudinal axis between a liquid input end and a liquid output end. The structure is characterized by a gas injection portion and a mixing vane portion. The gas injection portion is located downstream from the liquid input end and upstream from the liquid output end. The gas injection portion defines a first region of the interior fluid-flow chamber and a gas injection lumen that is surrounded by the interior fluid-flow chamber. The gas injection lumen, which extends along a length of the gas injection portion, is configured to inject gas from the interior of the gas injection lumen into the surrounding interior fluid-flow chamber. The mixing vane portion extends in the downstream direction from the gas injection portion and define a second region of the interior fluid-flow chamber.

A passive gas exchange transfer apparatus for exchanging carbon dioxide from a flue gas to a water supply is disclosed. The apparatus includes several upper rods and several lower rods to hold a membrane in place. The membrane provides increased surface area for the gas and the water to meet. The upper rods may be the source of the water supply, and the lower rods may be the source of the gas. The upper rods may disperse the water onto one side of the membrane, and the lower rods may disperse the gas onto the other side. The two may therefore meet at the surface created by the membrane as gravity draws the water downward, and convection draws the gas upward.

Embodiments of the present disclosure describe an aquaculture environment control system comprising one or more control apparatuses positioned within a vessel at an angle relative to a proximal vessel wall and configured for scouring of the vessel, wherein each control apparatus has a discharge conduit and each discharge conduit has one or more orifices; and a fluid source in fluid communication with each of the control apparatuses. Embodiments of the present disclosure describe a method of controlling an aquaculture environment comprising supplying one or more of a fluid and gas to a control apparatus positioned within a vessel at an angle relative to a proximal vessel wall; and discharging one or more of the fluid and gas from the control apparatus at a fluid velocity sufficient for scouring of the vessel.

A hollow expansion chamber of the present invention is configured to temporarily contain an expansion of bubbles during an aeration process for aerating a liquid, where a chamber body of the expansion chamber has an oblate spheroid shape. When moving circumferentially downward along the chamber body starting from a maximum inside diameter, the oblate spheroidal shape of a bottom portion has a first integral transition that is a tangential transition to a first frustoconical shape. Continuing moving circumferentially downward, the first frustoconical shape has a second integral transition to a cylindrical extension. The cylindrical extension at a distal end has a bottom opening configured to fit within an opened bottleneck. The first frustoconical shape has a minimum angle of 15 degrees relative to a horizontal plane. The second integral transition is a radial second integral transition having an inside surface radius of at least 0.25 inches.

Apparatus is disclosed for separating an amount of a substance from groundwater, comprising an elongate chamber (18) having an inlet (22) which is arranged in use to admit groundwater into the chamber near a lower first end (24). There is also a gas sparger (26) located near the first end (24) which admits gas into the chamber for inducing groundwater to flow from the first end (24) of the chamber toward a second end upper end, and for producing a froth layer (32) which rises above an interface with the groundwater including a concentrated amount of the substance. A suction hood (38) can be moved downward from the top of the chamber (18) into a position to collapse the froth layer (32) and to cause it to be removed from the well body (14). The suction hood (38) (acting as a froth depth regulation device) controls the amount of groundwater in the froth layer (32), which influences the concentration of the contaminant substance achieved in the froth layer (32).