The present invention is directed to provide cell concentration devices and cell concentration systems having a novel liquid flow-circulation chamber. It is a cell concentration device including a liquid flow-circulation chamber, the liquid flow-circulation chamber having a first tube and a second tube, the first tube and the second tube being connected with each other via a liquid delivery tube outside the liquid flow-circulation chamber, the liquid delivery tube including a liquid delivery pump and a cell concentration module, the liquid delivery pump being capable of feeding a liquid through the liquid delivery pump in both directions, the first tube and the second tube each having an open end in a liquid in the liquid flow-circulation chamber, the first tube having an opening in a gas in the liquid flow-circulation chamber, and the liquid being a suspension of cells.

Improved methods for anaerobic digestion of organic matter to produce biogas. Among the improvements given are including ferric iron in a hydrolysis reactor to increase the rate and efficiency of anaerobic hydrolysis to provide substrates for methanogenesis. A solids separation step is added after hydrolysis and before methanogenesis to improve the efficiency of the methanogenesis step. Other improvements involve using separate tanks for the hydrolysis and methanogenesis stages and using two (or more) methanogenesis tanks in sequence, and switching the order of the two (or more) methanogenesis tanks periodically.

Improved methods for anaerobic digestion of organic matter to produce biogas. Among the improvements given are including ferric iron in a hydrolysis reactor to increase the rate and efficiency of anaerobic hydrolysis to provide substrates for methanogenesis. A solids separation step is added after hydrolysis and before methanogenesis to improve the efficiency of the methanogenesis step. Other improvements involve using separate tanks for the hydrolysis and methanogenesis stages and using two (or more) methanogenesis tanks in sequence, and switching the order of the two (or more) methanogenesis tanks periodically.

Methods and systems for using encapsulated microbubbles to process biological samples are disclosed. According to one aspect, a method for using encapsulated microbubbles to process a biological sample includes creating a mixture comprising encapsulated microbubbles mixed with a biological sample and adding activation energy to the mixture to cause at least some of the microbubbles to oscillate or burst and thereby process the sample, including effecting cell lysis, shearing DNA, and/or performing tissue dispersion.

A microfluidic system includes a microfluidic device connected to a bubble trap device whereby fluid flowing to the microfluidic device passes through the bubble trap device to remove gas bubbles prior to entering the microfluidic device. The bubble trap can include a separation chamber and an exhaust chamber separated by a hydrophobic porous membrane and gas bubbles in the fluid entering the separation chamber pass through the hydrophobic porous membrane into the exhaust chamber while the fluid remains in the separation chamber. The bubble trap can be formed by bonding a first body portion to a first side of the hydrophobic porous membrane and bonding a second body portion to a second side of the hydrophobic porous membrane. The exhaust chamber can be connected to an elongated exhaust channel that limits the evaporation losses of the fluid through the hydrophobic porous membrane.

The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for hydrolyzing and acidifying homogenized organic waste fed into a closed and gas tight reactor using enzymatic bacteria under thermophilic conditions where water may be added to said reactor and the content of the reactor can be mixed and subjecting during hydrolysis and acidification an adequate part of a suspension formed in the reactor toi. a separation step isolatinga permeate comprising an aqueous solution of soluble carbon, volatile fatty acids (VFA) and valuable nutrients, an organic slurry comprising an aqueous solution of insoluble organic solids rich in enzymatic thermophilic bacteria and non-hydrolyzed organic solids, and the remaining part of soluble carbon, VFA and valuable nutrients, thereafter toii. a recirculation step re-feeding said organic slurry into the reactor for further hydrolysis and acidification.

An anaerobic digestion device includes a digester body with an opening through which organic waste is received and a digester drum removably inserted into the digester body for receiving the organic waste. The digester drum is movable relative to the digester body to advance a slurry of the organic waste along a length of the digester body. A set of ports spaced along the digester body and arranged to vent biogas from the organic waste contained in the digester drum. A storage vessel is configured to receive and store biogas received from the digester body via the ports, and a heating system configured to heat the digester body. The heating system is fuelled by the biogas vented from the digester body.

An enhanced apparatus system and method may be used to facilitate the construction of a processing tank such as an anaerobic digester. The kit may include a cover assembly that can be assembled to form a cover for the processing tank, a side wall assembly that can be assembled to form a side wall for the processing tank, and a plurality of ballast support assemblies. Each ballast support assembly may have a retracted configuration in which the ballast support assembly avoids significantly impeding vertical motion of the ballast block from an initial ballast location to a final ballast location, and a deployed configuration in which the ballast block can be supported by the ballast support assembly in the final ballast location.

A method and apparatus for extracting CO.sub.2 from air comprising an anion exchange material formed in a matrix exposed to a flow of the air, and for delivering that extracted CO.sub.2 to controlled environments. The present invention contemplates the extraction of CO2 from air using conventional extraction methods or by using one of the extraction methods disclosed; e.g., humidity swing or electro dialysis. The present invention also provides delivery of the CO.sub.2 to greenhouses where increased levels of CO.sub.2 will improve conditions for growth. Alternatively, the CO.sub.2 is fed to an algae culture.

Biorcactor apparatus and methods for bioreactor processing are disclosed. A bioreactor apparatus has a vessel for containing liquid media and a head space gas and a Venturi pump assembly. The Venturi pump assembly has a media outlet conduit; a media inlet conduit; a pump device, configured to draw media from the vessel through the media outlet conduit and pass it to the media inlet conduit; and a foam collector member. The foam collector member has a mouth portion disposed within the vessel at a liquid media surface position; and a narrowed throat portion. The media inlet conduit is adapted to direct pumped media through the throat portion of the foam collector member, to generate therein a region of reduced pressure for aspirating surface foam into the mouth portion of the foam collector member.