We have modified a commercially-available adherent cell culture bioreactor, developing a new sampling manifold configuration and new way of taking samples to reduce contamination risk.

A detector arrangement for a blood culture bottle incorporating a colorimetric sensor which is subject to change of color due to change in pH or CO.sub.2 of a sample medium within the blood culture bottle. The detector arrangement includes a sensor LED illuminating the colorimetric sensor, a reference LED illuminating the colorimetric sensor, a control circuit for selectively and alternately activating the sensor LED and the reference LED, and a photodetector. The photodetector measures reflectance from the colorimetric sensor during the selective and alternating illumination of the colorimetric sensor with the sensor LED and the reference LED and generates intensity signals. The reference LED is selected to have a peak wavelength of illumination such that the intensity signals of the photodetector from illumination by the reference LED are not substantially affected by changes in the color of the colorimetric sensor.

A device for the removal of volatile organic compounds including at least one first connector arranged at the outlet of a gas stream to be treated. At its top, has a connection extension that links with the bioreactor located in the middle part of the device (having a nutrient solution where organisms that degrade volatile organic compounds can grow). Additionally, there is a dispersion arrangement that couples with an outlet through which the gaseous stream, once treated, is expelled out to the environment. A distribution network of a nutritive solution with microorganisms that degrade volatile organic compounds. The connection extension includes a distributor cone that is arranged in an inverted way and internally emptied and also has a cylindrical extension at its top. The distributor cone allows the airflow to be displaced by an external path into the internal walls of the distributor cone, whose cylindrical extension connects with a second perforated cylinder with multiples drill holes throughout its periphery. The axial axis of the cylindrical extension coincides with the axial axis of the distributor cone. The perforations of this second perforated cylinder are arranged so that the gas output can enter the bioreactor from its bottom.

A method and system for high rate acidification and organic solids solubilization of feedstocks such as municipal source separated organics, municipal sewage sludge, and various industrial organic wastes are disclosed. The method and system feature a completely mixed bioreactor containing hydrogen-producing microorganisms, a crossflow membrane unit or membrane module located downstream of the bioreactor, a storage tank for receiving concentrated microorganisms from the membrane unit or module, and a connection that recirculates desired quantities of biomass from the storage tank to the bioreactor. This configuration decouples the solids residence time (SRT) from the hydraulic retention time (HRT) and results in a high solubilization rate.

The present disclosure relates to use of systems for culturing, incubating, and/or expanding adherent cells.

Embodiments disclosed herein relate to novel apparatuses, methods and systems employing said novel apparatuses, and sensors for use with said apparatuses and systems. In some embodiments, apparatuses and systems described herein are used to culture cells and/or detect changes in pH levels or dissolved oxygen and/or carbon dioxide levels in a cell culture sample resulting from the growth of living cells contained within a reaction vessel such as a flask. In some embodiments, said novel apparatuses may be used in combination with a rocker or shaking device or apparatus. The systems and methods may be used to detect changes in pH and dissolved gas levels in a liquid contained in the reaction vessel due to growth of living cells.

A batch reactor includes a first portion, a second portion, a first drainage tank, a second drainage tank, and a first flow control mechanism. The first portion includes a first chamber, a second chamber, and a third chamber in fluid communication with one another configured for a flow of at least one biomaterial therethrough. The second portion includes a first chamber and a second chamber in fluid communication with one another configured for a flow of the least one biomaterial therethrough. The first drainage chamber is in fluid communication with the first and second chambers. The second drainage chamber is in fluid communication with the third chamber of the first portion and the second chamber of the second portion. The first flow control mechanism is disposed between the third chamber of the first portion and the first chamber of the second portion.

A process for reducing the production of sludge by municipal or industrial wastewater purification plants, comprising a step of mesophilic or thermophilic anaerobic digestion (20), or anaerobic digestion combining these two operating modes, of a stream of sludge to be treated (1), and at least one biological solubilization anaerobic treatment step (30); the process comprises, upstream of the anaerobic digestion step, a step of dehydration (10) of the sludge to be treated, followed by a step of mixing (15) the dehydrated sludge with a recirculated fraction of sludge that is more liquid, originating from recycling of the digestion (20), and/or from the anaerobic treatment step (30), and/or centrates originating from a final dehydration (50) of the treated sludge, wherein the recirculation rate is chosen such that the mixture has a dryness suitable for digestion, this mixture then being directed towards the digestion.

A method for producing H.sub.2, methane, VFAs and alcohols from organic material, including the steps of introducing organic material and microorganisms into a completely mixed bioreactor for producing H.sub.2, CO.sub.2, VFAs, and alcohols; recovering H2 and CO2; recovering a first liquid effluent including microorganisms, VFAs, and alcohols; introducing the first liquid effluent into a gravity settler for separating into a first biomass including microorganisms and a second liquid effluent including VFAs, alcohols and microorganisms; introducing the second liquid effluent into a separation module for separating into a second biomass including microorganisms and a third liquid effluent including VFAs and alcohols; recovering at least a portion of the third liquid effluent; and providing a recovered biomass by recovering at least a portion of the first biomass, the second biomass, or both, and introducing the recovered biomass into a biomethanator for production of CH.sub.4 and CO.sub.2.

Disclosed is a method for the culture of photosynthetic organisms selected from among microalgae, cyanobacteria and macroalgae using a continuous or discontinuous CO2 source.