A device for evaluating progression of differentiation from pluripotent stem cells to pigment-containing cells includes a first irradiation unit configured to irradiate cells in a vessel with light in a melanin absorption wavelength band, a first detection unit configured to detect photo-acoustic waves generated from the cells irradiated with the light, and a processor configured to output an evaluation result relevant to the progression of the differentiation of the cells to the pigment-containing cells, based on intensity of the detected photo-acoustic waves detected by the first detection unit.

The present invention relates to a reactor comprising a vessel (1) for containing: • a mass to be treated, and • at least one lighting device (2a, 2b) intended to promote the treatment of said mass, characterized in that each lighting device (2a, 2b) comprises a light diffuser including at least one micro-etched plate (211) which is transparent to light radiation.

Provided are a culture apparatus and a culture method with which microalgae can be cultured satisfactorily. The culture apparatus includes a plurality of culture tanks and a water storage tank, and cultures microalgae in a culture solution. Each of the plurality of culture tanks has a translucent accommodating portion containing the culture solution and microalgae. The volumes of the accommodating portions of the plurality of culture tanks are different from each other. The water storage tank has a translucent water storage unit for storing a stored water. The plurality of culture tanks are selectively arranged in the water storage unit.

A system, comprising a Trickle Bed Reactor (TBR), a microalgae cultivation module, and a feedback module is used to sustainably boost CO2 fixation for growing micro-algae. The TBR comprises a packing material in the form of non-porous particles with a high surface-to-volume ratio, forming a substrate for attachment of Volatile Fatty Acid (VFA) producing microbes, fed with CO2 (and/or CO), H2, nutrients, and a moistening liquid. The TBR output is fed to the microalgae cultivation module which uses micro-algae selected or adapted for increased productivity in the presence of VFAs. No CO2 needs to be fed to the microalgae cultivation module. At least part of the output of the microalgae cultivation module is fed by the feedback module back to the TBR either as a source of nutrients or for as a means backflushing for unclogging or expulsing the packing material from the TBR for cleaning/disinfection. The overall CO2 balance of the system operation is negative.

The present disclosure provides methods and materials for the cultivation and/or propagation of a photosynthetic organism. Such methods may comprise the use of a lamp assembly that comprises a plurality of circuit boards, each comprising at least three edges, arranged in a substantially spherical shape defining an interior lamp assembly volume, wherein the plurality of circuit boards comprise a first planar surface in contact with the interior lamp assembly volume and an opposing second planar surface comprising light emitting diodes (LEDs); and a barrier that surrounds the plurality of circuit boards forming the substantially spherical shape.

Various embodiments of the present technology provide methods and systems for soil enrichment. The systems may comprise a bioreactor system coupled to an initial treatment system for the cultivation of a live microorganism culture containing organic nutrients on an agriculturally effective scale. The systems may be automated and/or portable for practical applications onto target fields. The live microorganism culture may be delivered onto the soil of the target fields, enriching the soil with the organic nutrients that become bioavailable to crops growing in the soil. The soil enrichment system may provide a sustainable approach to agriculture that may efficiently enhance the natural processes of the native soil of any crop.

A photobioreactor is particularly suited for producing micro-organisms such as microalgae. The photobioreactor is a closed reactor with reactor vessels which have an open top that is closed by a top wall of the photobioreactor and in which a nutrient medium can be held. At least some of the reactor vessels are individual vessels. Adjacent reactor vessels form a gap between a front wall and a rear wall, the gap being closed at the top side by an overflow wall region and having a vessel overflow opening between the adjacent reactor vessels. A lighting element is held in the gap. Each of the reactor vessels has a partition which divides the reactor vessel into a front reactor chamber and a rear reactor chamber. At least one partition through-flow opening between the front and rear reactor chambers is formed in the partition close to the bottom wall.

In a culturing method, microalgae are cultured in a culturing solution while a gas containing carbon dioxide is supplied to the culturing solution. In an ion concentration acquisition step, an acquired value of a concentration of hydrogen carbonate ions in the culturing solution is obtained. In an ion concentration adjustment step, in the case that the acquired value does not reside within a set concentration range that is set beforehand, at least one of a temperature or a pH of the culturing solution is adjusted, whereby the concentration of hydrogen carbonate ions in the culturing solution is adjusted to reside within the set concentration range.

A compound algae culture apparatus is provided, which includes a photobioreactor module, a growth regulating module, a circulation transfer module, and a circulation pipeline module. The photobioreactor module includes at least one photobioreactor unit, and the growth regulating module includes at least one growth tank unit. The photobioreactor unit includes a light-transmitting coiled pipe. The growth tank unit has a tank body, and a plurality of partitions are disposed in the tank body to divide an inside of the tank body for formation of a curved flow channel A culture fluid for culturing algae passes through the photobioreactor unit and enters the growth tank unit. A volume of the growth tank unit is larger than a volume of the photobioreactor unit, and a residence time of the culture fluid in the growth tank unit is greater than a residence time of the culture fluid in the photobioreactor unit.

An illuminated container for the growth of biological entities is provided. The container is illuminated by a flexible light diffusing fiber. The light diffusing fiber includes a core formed from a silica-based glass and a cladding in direct contact with the core. The light diffusing fiber also includes an outer polymer coating layer surrounding the cladding, the outer polymer coating layer being the cured product of a liquid polymer blend including a scattering material and a luminophore.