Bioreactors are provided that include a vessel and a jet mixer disposed in the vessel. Methods that utilize the bioreactors are provided, involving placing a microorganism or cells and a fluid medium in the bioreactor.

Bioreactors are disclosed that include a vessel, a jet mixing system comprising a plurality of jet flow agitators disposed in the vessel, each jet flow agitator comprising a shaft, a shroud surrounding the shaft, the shaft having a bore and a plurality of orifices in communication with the bore, and an impeller mounted on the shaft within the shroud, and a gas delivery system configured to supply a process gas to the vessel through the bore such that the gas exits the orifices. The vessel may include a vent, and the gas delivery system may include a source of oxygen in communication with the vessel, an oxygen monitor configured to monitor the oxygen content of a liquid in the vessel, and a controller configured to adjust the oxygen content of the liquid, using the vent and oxygen source, in response to input from the oxygen monitor.

A foam sensor system includes a container bounding a compartment. A foam sensor assembly is mounted on the container and includes: a base being secured to the container; a foam contact being spaced apart from the base and disposed within the compartment of the container, at least a portion of the foam contact having a first diameter; and a transition member extending between the base and the foam contact with at least a portion of the transition member being openly exposed within the compartment of the container, at least a portion of the transition member having a second diameter that is smaller than the first diameter, the foam contact and transition member being connected together so that an electrical signal can pass therethrough.

The present invention relates to the field of fermentation. In particular, the present invention relates to a method and apparatus for production of products by use of living cells or active components derived from such cells using a bioreactor having a built in gas distributor and a specific system/device for handling foam formed in the process. The invention also relates to a bioreactor comprising: a reaction chamber having a fermentation zone and a foam settling zone, wherein the reaction chamber is arranged such that the foam settling zone is spaced from or physically separated from the fermentation zone so as to reduce the effect of activity in the fermentation zone on foam in the settling zone. The separation of the fermentation zone from the activity of the fermentation zone encourages settling of the foam. The invention also provides a method of forming a bioreactor comprising: overlapping two flat, flexible sheets of material; and causing said two sheets to adhere to each other in selected areas so as to define a reaction chamber. This is a particularly cost-effective way to produce a single use, disposable reactor.

A reactor system is provided for improved fermentation of a gaseous substrate through the introduction of a secondary loop to a forced-circulation loop reactor. The reactor comprises a primary loop through which fermentation broth comprising a gaseous substrate is circulated through a riser segment and a downcomer section by a loop pump. Downstream of the loop pump a portion of fermentation broth is withdrawn from the downcomer section and is directed to the top of the reactor via a secondary loop. Further provided is a method for improving the mass transfer of a gaseous substrate to a fermentation broth in a fermentation vessel comprising a secondary loop. Further provided is a method for reducing foam in the headspace of a fermentation vessel comprising a secondary loop.

A foam sensor system includes a flexible bag comprised of a polymeric material and bounding a compartment. A foam sensor assembly is mounted on the flexible bag and includes a foam contact disposed within the compartment of the flexible bag. A ground assembly is mounted on the flexible bag and includes a ground contact disposed within the compartment of the flexible bag, the foam sensor assembly and the ground assembly being configured so that an electrical potential can be applied between the foam contact and the ground contact.

The aspects of the disclosed embodiments generally relate to an apparatus which allows for the controlled addition of antifoam to the foam present in the headspace of a disposable single-use bioreactor in a reliable manner. The aspects of the disclosed embodiments also generally relate to a method of using such apparatus which allows for the controlled addition of antifoam to the foam present in the headspace of a disposable single-use bioreactor in a reliable manner. The aspects of the disclosed embodiments generally relate to antifoam systems, methods and apparatus, and more particularly, to an antifoam device operably connected to a single use biobag.

A device and method for detecting the level of foam in a reactor vessel monitors the intensity of the light of the movement of the light detected by a camera. The camera monitors at least one light source positioned inside the reactor vessel or viewable through the reactor vessel.

A system for producing a hydrophobic chemical includes circulating biofilm bioreactors for synthesizing the hydrophobic products and continuous extraction into an organic solvent phase. Various configurations can be employed for assembling the bioreactors into a production module. Extraction operations can be conducted in one or more extraction vessels. In some cases, product and solvent are separated using membrane separation techniques, with solvent being rerouted to the extraction vessel(s). Methods for the biotransformation of feedstocks into chemical products also are described.

System for detecting at least one presence of foam of a medium in a bioreactor plant, wherein the system comprises: a bioreactor plant having at least one disposable container for receiving the medium that may comprise the foam; andat least two capacitive sensor units which are attached at at least two different situating positions of the bioreactor plant, wherein the capacitive sensor units each comprise at least one electrode system for capacitive measurement and are able to detect the presence of foam at the at least two situating positions on the basis of the capacitive measurement; and wherein the capacitive sensor units are designed to transmit captured data relating to the presence of foam to at least one monitoring unit for monitoring, open-loop and/or closed-loop control of foam formation in the bioreactor plant on the basis of said data.