Embodiments described herein generally provide for expanding cells in a cell expansion system. The cells may be grown in a bioreactor, and the cells may be activated by an activator (e.g., a soluble activator complex). Nutrient and gas exchange capabilities of a closed, automated cell expansion system may allow cells to be seeded at reduced cell seeding densities, for example. Parameters of the cell growth environment may be manipulated to load the cells into a particular position in the bioreactor for the efficient exchange of nutrients and gases. System parameters may be adjusted to shear any cell colonies that may form during the expansion phase. Metabolic concentrations may be controlled to improve cell growth and viability. Cell residence in the bioreactor may be controlled. In embodiments, the cells may include T cells. In further embodiments, the cells may include T cell subpopulations, including regulatory T cells (Tregs), for example.

The present invention provides a method that has been devised to overcome the two most important limitations for sustained biological hydrogen production, namely contamination of the microbial hydrogen-producing cultures with methane-producing cultures necessitating frequent re-start-up and/or other methanogenic bacteria inactivation techniques, and the low bacterial yield of hydrogen-producers culminating in microbial washout from the system and failure. The method includes biological hydrogen production, followed by a gravity settler positioned downstream of the CSTR, which combination forms a biohydrogenator. The biomass concentration in the hydrogen reactor is kept at the desired range through biomass recirculation from the bottom of the gravity settler and/or biomass wastage from the gravity settler's underflow. The gravity setter effluent is loaded with volatile fatty acids, as a result of microbiological breakdown of the influent waste constituents by hydrogen-producing bacteria, and is an excellent substrate for methane-forming bacteria in the downstream biomethanator.

The application relates to an anaerobic digestion system for production of biogas with a reduced hydrogen sulphide content. The system comprises an airtight reactor vessel comprising: sludge comprising a surface layer and a volume underneath the surface layer comprising bio-matter and micro-organisms that are able to anaerobically digest the bio-matter, thereby producing biogas comprising hydrogen sulphide, a headspace above the surface layer of the sludge into which biogas migrates out of the sludge, a spraying system for spraying an aqueous nitrate containing solution in the headspace using a carrier gas stream to form a nitrate containing interphase layer between the surface layer of the sludge and the headspace, with the proviso that the reactor vessel does not comprise a membrane or fabric positioned in the headspace.

The present invention relates to a microfluidic device (1; 8) for the production of cellular spheroids comprising at least one chamber (2; 9) comprising a fluid inlet (3) for introducing fluid into the chamber (2; 9) and a fluid outlet (4) for removing said fluid from the chamber (2, 9), wherein said at least one chamber (2; 9) comprises a base formed by a substrate (5; 10) comprising at least two recesses (6; 11) to collect a fluid comprising biological cells when the substrate (5, 10) is contacted with the fluid, wherein the size of the at least two recesses (6; 11) decreases from the fluid inlet (3) to the fluid outlet (4) of the at least one chamber (2; 9).

Described herein is an improved automatic bioreactor system utilizing a multi-tray or multi-plate cell culture vessel for cultivating adherent cells.

Disclosed herein is a system and method for condensing moisture in a gas stream entering or leaving a bioreactor, the system comprising: a contact condenser container fluidically coupled to the bioreactor through an exhaust line; a condensate accumulator fluidically coupled to the contact condenser container through at least a first condensate line and a second condensate line; the condensate accumulator further fluidically coupled to the bioreactor through a condensate overflow line; a first condensate control device disposed on the first condensate line and configured to control a flow of condensate leaving the contact condenser container and entering the condensate accumulator; and a second condensate control device disposed on the second condensate line and configured to control a flow of condensate leaving the condensate accumulator to be mixed with the gas stream.

The invention relates to methods of capturing carbon by microbial fermentation of a gaseous substrate comprising CO into one or more first products which, in turn, may be incorporated into an article of manufacture or one or more second products.

Control of humidity in chemical reactors, and associated systems and methods, are generally described. In certain embodiments, the humidity within gas transport conduits and chambers can be controlled to inhibit unwanted condensation within gas transport pathways. By inhibiting condensation within gas transport pathways, clogging of such pathways can be limited (or eliminated) such that transport of gas can be more easily and controllably achieved. In addition, strategies for purging condensed liquid from chemical reactor systems are also described.

A method of producing mineral-rich algae by growing algae with an algae biofilm growing apparatus, wherein the algae is fed a mineral-rich feed stock. Furthermore, the mineral-rich algae is harvested and used as a foodstuff for human and animal consumption.

The invention relates to a steel mill adapted to provide gas stream(s) comprising CO to a microbial fermentation, the steel mill comprising a steel mill structure containing apparatus for a steel manufacturing process wherein said apparatus produces waste gases during various stages of the steel making process, said waste gases being directed into the atmosphere by a waste stack, wherein the waste stack is connected to a fermentation system by a transfer means connected to the waste stack to divert at least a portion of the waste gases to the microbial fermentation system.