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 first sparger connected to the collapsible bag, and a second sparger connected to the collapsible bag.

Systems for containing and manipulating fluids including systems and methods involving supported collapsible bags that may be used as reactors for performing chemical, biochemical and/or biological reactions contained therein are provided. Generally, a series of improvements and features for fluid containment systems such as gas delivery configurations, foam control systems and bag molding methods and articles for supported collapsible bag vessels and bioreactors are provided. For instance, in one aspect, fluids contained in a vessel can be sparged, e.g., such that a fluid is directed into a container of the vessel, and in some cases, the sparging can be controlled by rapidly activating or altering the degree of sparging as needed. Multiple spargers may be used in some cases. In another aspect, the vessel includes a seamless collapsible bag. In some cases, the collapsible bag may be injected, blown, or spin cast molded. In yet another aspect, the vessel includes a device which can reduce the foam produced or contained within the vessel. Sensors and/or controllers may optionally be used to monitor and/or control foaming.

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.

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 system for enabling a wireless single use sensing sub-system by optimizing electrical power is presented. The system includes the sensing sub-system configured to be employed in a bio process environment. Further, the sensing sub-system includes a sensing unit configured to measure at least one parameter of the bio process environment. Also, the sensing sub-system includes a power source electrically coupled to the sensing unit and configured to transmit an electrical power to the sensing unit. Furthermore, the sensing sub-system includes a switch configured to electrically couple or decouple the sensing unit from the power source. In addition, the system includes a control sub-system including a first controller configured to determine at least one power control parameter based on a user-input data and a sensing sub-system data, and optimize consumption of the electrical power in the sensing sub-system, based on the power control parameter.

A device and method for detecting the level of foam in a reactor vessel monitors the intensity of the light or the movement of the light detected by a camera which monitors at least one light source positioned inside the reactor vessel or viewable through the reactor vessel.

Bioreactors are provided that include a vessel and a jet mixer disposed in the vessel. Methods that utilize the bioreactors are provided, involving placing a microorganism or cells and a fluid medium in the bioreactor.

Bioreactors are disclosed that include a vessel, a jet mixing system comprising a plurality of jet flow agitators disposed in the vessel, each jet flow agitator comprising a shaft, a shroud surrounding the shaft, the shaft having a bore and a plurality of orifices in communication with the bore, and an impeller mounted on the shaft within the shroud, and a gas delivery system configured to supply a process gas to the vessel through the bore such that the gas exits the orifices. The vessel may include a vent, and the gas delivery system may include a source of oxygen in communication with the vessel, an oxygen monitor configured to monitor the oxygen content of a liquid in the vessel, and a controller configured to adjust the oxygen content of the liquid, using the vent and oxygen source, in response to input from the oxygen monitor.

A foam sensor system includes a container bounding a compartment. A foam sensor assembly is mounted on the container and includes: a base being secured to the container; a foam contact being spaced apart from the base and disposed within the compartment of the container, at least a portion of the foam contact having a first diameter; and a transition member extending between the base and the foam contact with at least a portion of the transition member being openly exposed within the compartment of the container, at least a portion of the transition member having a second diameter that is smaller than the first diameter, the foam contact and transition member being connected together so that an electrical signal can pass therethrough.

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.