The present disclosure is directed toward membrane biofilm reactors primarily comprising microorganisms that produce chemical fuel products or precursors thereof. Reactors of the present disclosure can primarily comprise acetogens, a methanotrophs, and/or Methanosarcina acetivorans.

Embodiments provide for introducing a first fluid into a bioreactor and while introducing the first fluid into the bioreactor, circulating a second fluid with a reagent at a first flow rate through the bioreactor. The bioreactor may be maintained in a first orientation for a first period of time to allow at least a first portion of the reagent to coat the bioreactor. The second fluid may then be circulated at a second flow rate slower than the first flow rate to allow a second portion of the reagent to coat the bioreactor. Introduction of the first fluid may promote coating of the bioreactor by ultrafiltration. The introduction of the first fluid may be stopped. A third fluid may be circulated through the bioreactor to remove a portion of the reagent not coated on the bioreactor.

A microalgae culture broth producing system includes a device for culture broth sterilization using a micro bubble generator, an air compression and pressure equalization device for the injection of carbon dioxide and oxygen in the atmosphere into the culture broth. The system also includes an air chilling device to maintain suitable culture broth temperature when water temperature is too high, an automatic carbon dioxide supply device to promote photosynthesis, and a sealed vertical photobioreactor to block out pollutants and increase dissolved carbon dioxide and oxygen concentration. The system further includes a high-efficiency harvesting device using hollow fiber membranes, and a hot air drying device using the waste heat generated by air compression.

A method, and also a gas supply system without a separate humidifying apparatus, for supplying gas to a plurality of bioreactors, divides a constant gas stream with high distribution accuracy into a plurality of gas substreams having a mandated volume flow, which can be kept constant at the mandated level even when during gas supply there is fluctuation in the opposing pressure in the gas line to the respective bioreactor, and decouples a gas distribution from the opposing pressure by hydrostatic pressure compensation, with the gas distribution at the same time producing an obligatory humidification of the gas stream.

A liquid cell culture medium collecting filter unit includes a porous metal membrane that filters out cells in a liquid cell culture medium, a support that holds a peripheral portion of the porous metal membrane. and a tubular member that has a hollow part serving a flow path for a liquid cell culture medium. The tubular member is connected to the support such that the flow path faces at least part of a main surface of the porous metal membrane.

A lateral filter array microfluidic (LFAM) device for highly efficient immunoaffinity isolation of target cells from a population of cells. The LFAM device may include of one or more serpentine main channels incorporated with lateral filter arrays. Antibodies are immobilized on the channel surface including the lateral filters and are capable of specific binding to one or more biomolecules on the surface of the target cell. The device may include one or more arrays of lateral filters with different sizes. The overall filters sizes are close to the diameter of the target cell, therefore the interaction between biomarkers on the target cells and corresponding antibodies immobilized on the filter surface is largely strengthened due to the direct contact between target cells and lateral filters. Methods include flowing a population of cells through an antibody-coated LFAM device for target cells capture, followed by washing the device to remove non-specific captured cells.

A cell culture bioreactor has membranes divided into a plurality of zones. The membranes may include perfusion membranes carrying a liquid media and/or gas transfer membranes. The bioreactor has one or more sensors configured to collect data from one or more locations within the bioreactor. The supply of one or more of the gaseous and/or liquid media to a selected zone or zones may be controlled. In some examples, the supply includes a background supply and a selectable incremental supply. The bioreactor may be used to grow cells in suspension. Liquid media circulates within an extra-capillary space of the bioreactor. In some examples, a portion of cells is permitted for a period of time to be restrained within one or more zones of the membranes. Elements of a reactor may be made in a mold. A reactor may be operated in a fed-batch process.

Described herein are biofilm bioreactors for synthesis at the interface between two liquids, and methods of using such bioreactors for the biotransformation of feedstocks into chemical products. Also contemplated is the extraction of such products.

The present invention is to provide a method capable of visualizing a coating state of a protein adsorbent even on a substrate having a complicated structure, in particular, for use on a surface of an apparatus for culturing or growing living cells. The method comprises coating a series of substrates with selected protein adsorbents and fluorescent dye, irradiating selected coated substrates and determining a coating state from color development of the substrates.

A cell culture system including self-propelled transport device for transporting cells or materials to be used for culture operation, treatment units for performing culture operation using the cells and materials and a transport command unit for controlling the self-propelled transport device to move the cells and materials to a required treatment unit. To control the self-propelled transport device, the transport command unit uses cell driving parameters when the cells are moved, and uses material driving parameters when the materials are moved. Hence, transport of cells and materials using the self-propelled transport device can be optimized, and culture operation can be performed efficiently.