An apparatus produces a target metabolite in a bioreaction. The apparatus has a reactor vessel that contains a bulk liquor in which the bioreaction is conducted, with a headspace provided above the bulk liquor. In some instances, the target metabolite is favorably partitioned into a foam formed at an interface of the bulk liquor and the headspace. A foam collector is arranged to receive this foam from the bioreactor and break it into a condensed foam liquid, from which the target metabolite may be isolated and purified. In one exemplary application, paenibacillin is produced by fermentation of a medium by Paenibacillus polymyxa OSY-DF, and is preferentially concentrated in the foam. In another exemplary application, fermentation of a medium by Bacillus velezensis GF610 produces amyloliquecidin GF610 is which is preferentially concentrated in the foam.

A multisensor and a process for the production of the multisensor for a bioreactor for use in cell culture and/or in microbiology is disclosed. The multisensor comprises at least three measurement arrangements configured to measure at least three parameters, where a first of the three measurement arrangements is configured to carry out an impedance measurement and/or a capacitive measurement, and where the first measurement arrangement has at least two electrodes which comprise an electrically conductive plasti.

A bioreactor configured to contain a volume of liquid is provided. The bioreactor includes a collapsible bag able to contain the volume of liquid, a support structure surrounding and containing the collapsible bag, a first sparger connected to the collapsible bag, the first sparger having a first aperture size, and a second sparger connected to the collapsible bag, the second sparger having a second aperture size that is different from the first aperture size.

A bioprocessing apparatus includes a flexible bag having an interior volume configured to contain a fluid, and an integral fluid conduit within the flexible bioprocessing bag. The integral fluid conduit includes a panel of material joined to an interior sidewall of the flexible bag so as to define a fluid channel between the interior sidewall of the flexible bag and the panel of material. The integral fluid conduit may include a bottom outlet opening, a top outlet opening, or both. The apparatus may further include a port in a top of the flexible bag, a port in the bottom of the flexible bag, or both, wherein the integral fluid conduit is fluidly connected to the ports.

A bioreactor for culturing of microorganisms or cells comprising: a casing defining an interior space of the bioreactor, wherein said interior space is configured to receive and hold a culture medium with microbial or cellular liquid cultures; and at least one coupling element provided on the casing for coupling with a foam mitigation device for mitigation of foam built-up in the interior space of the bioreactor during use of the bioreactor for culturing of microorganisms or cells; wherein the coupling element is configured to allow ultrasonic waves generated by the foam mitigation device act upon foam built-up in the interior space of the bioreactor.

A foam identification system including a thermal imaging camera and a controller connected to the thermal imaging camera. The thermal imaging camera images a surface of a liquid in a vessel that is exposed to a headspace of the vessel. The headspace being either warmer or cooler than the liquid. The camera and the controller detect a change in temperature of the exposed surface of the liquid to identify foam on the exposed surface of the liquid.

Provided is a defoamer for a fermenter. A defoamer for a fermenter according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: a body (100) having a first hollow (110) at a central portion thereof and having a disk shape; a support (200) having a second hollow (210) connected with the first hollow (110), and extending from an upper surface (120) and a lower surface (130) of the body (100); and a plurality of first vanes (310, 320, 330, 340, 350, 360, 370, and 380) mounted on the lower surface (130) of the body (100).

A bioreactor system includes a housing configured to house and support a vessel, a stereo camera having first and second imagers secured to the housing, the stereo camera configured to image a surface of a liquid and a foam exposed to a headspace of the vessel. The system further includes a controller operatively connected to the stereo camera and the stereo camera and controller are configured to create an image of the exposed surface and identify foam on the surface based on the image.

The invention concerns a digester for performing a sludge methanization treatment for the purpose of generating biogas and a digestate, the digester comprising a device (32) for discharging foaming and/or floating matter (16) from the digestate (12), comprising: a first tank (33) delimited by a first wall (100) having a first height (h1), the first tank (33) being intended to be fed with digestate (12) and with foaming and/or floating matter (16) from a volume of material (14) by overflow over the first wall (100); a second tank (34) connected to the atmosphere and sited outside the enclosure (13) of the digester, comprising: a first zone (35) delimited by a second wall (103) having a second height (h2); and a second zone (36) in communication with the reservoir (19); a conduit (37) connecting the first tank (33) via a first orifice (101) to the first zone (35) of the second tank (34) via a second orifice (102) positioned higher than or level with the first orifice (101), the first zone (35) being intended to be fed with digestate (12) and with foaming and/or floating matter (16) from the first tank (33) through the conduit (37); the second zone (36) being intended to be fed with digestate from the first zone (35) by overflow over the second wall (103);
the first height (h1) and the second height (h2) being predefined such that a first mixture, containing variable proportions of digestate and foaming and/or floating matter in the first tank (33) and having a first average density (d1), is transferred by gravity into the first zone (35), which contains a second mixture containing variable proportions of digestate and foaming and/or floating matter and having a second density (d2), the transfer operating such that the product of the first average density (d1) times the first height (h1) is greater than the product of the second average density (d2) times the second height (h2) times the first height (h1).

A bioreactor for culturing of microorganisms or cells comprising: a casing defining an interior space of the bioreactor, wherein said interior space is configured to receive and hold a culture medium with microbial or cellular liquid cultures; and at least one coupling element provided on the casing for coupling with a foam mitigation device for mitigation of foam built-up in the interior space of the bioreactor during use of the bioreactor for culturing of microorganisms or cells; wherein the coupling element is configured to allow ultrasonic waves generated by the foam mitigation device act upon foam built-up in the interior space of the bioreactor.