Improved methods for anaerobic digestion of organic matter to produce biogas. Among the improvements given are including ferric iron in a hydrolysis reactor to increase the rate and efficiency of anaerobic hydrolysis to provide substrates for methanogenesis. A solids separation step is added after hydrolysis and before methanogenesis to improve the efficiency of the methanogenesis step. Other improvements involve using separate tanks for the hydrolysis and methanogenesis stages and using two (or more) methanogenesis tanks in sequence, and switching the order of the two (or more) methanogenesis tanks periodically.

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.

Systems and methods for enhancing volatile fatty acid, ammonia or dihydrogen production in fermenting bioreactors are presented. Energy efficient evaporation methods and systems are disclosed. Integration of bioreactor and energy efficient evaporation enable use in existing bioreactors. Methods for further recovering fermentation products in bioreactors used for wastewater applications are also disclosed.

A device assembly including a single-use device for sensing or influencing a parameter of a running bioprocess. The single-use device is configured to have at least two different defined functional states, a first functional state being an inactive delivery state in which the single-use device is sterile and inoperable according to its intended use, and a second functional state being an active use state in which the single-use device is operable according to its intended use. The device assembly further includes a signalling element for indicating a current functional state of the single-use device to a user. Each functional state is associated with a distinct signal. The device assembly is configured such that a transfer from the first functional state to any other functional state of the single-use device is irreversible and/or permanently prevents the signalling element from indicating the signal associated with the first functional state.

Improved methods for anaerobic digestion of organic matter to produce biogas. Among the improvements given are including ferric iron in a hydrolysis reactor to increase the rate and efficiency of anaerobic hydrolysis to provide substrates for methanogenesis. A solids separation step is added after hydrolysis and before methanogenesis to improve the efficiency of the methanogenesis step. Other improvements involve using separate tanks for the hydrolysis and methanogenesis stages and using two (or more) methanogenesis tanks in sequence, and switching the order of the two (or more) methanogenesis tanks periodically.

Improved methods for anaerobic digestion of organic matter to produce biogas. Among the improvements given are including ferric iron in a hydrolysis reactor to increase the rate and efficiency of anaerobic hydrolysis to provide substrates for methanogenesis. A solids separation step is added after hydrolysis and before methanogenesis to improve the efficiency of the methanogenesis step. Other improvements involve using separate tanks for the hydrolysis and methanogenesis stages and using two (or more) methanogenesis tanks in sequence, and switching the order of the two (or more) methanogenesis tanks periodically.

Improved methods for anaerobic digestion of organic matter to produce biogas. Among the improvements given are including ferric iron in a hydrolysis reactor to increase the rate and efficiency of anaerobic hydrolysis to provide substrates for methanogenesis. A solids separation step is added after hydrolysis and before methanogenesis to improve the efficiency of the methanogenesis step. Other improvements involve using separate tanks for the hydrolysis and methanogenesis stages and using two (or more) methanogenesis tanks in sequence, and switching the order of the two (or more) methanogenesis tanks periodically.

Improved methods for anaerobic digestion of organic matter to produce biogas. Among the improvements given are including ferric iron in a hydrolysis reactor to increase the rate and efficiency of anaerobic hydrolysis to provide substrates for methanogenesis. A solids separation step is added after hydrolysis and before methanogenesis to improve the efficiency of the methanogenesis step. Other improvements involve using separate tanks for the hydrolysis and methanogenesis stages and using two (or more) methanogenesis tanks in sequence, and switching the order of the two (or more) methanogenesis tanks periodically.

An improved process and apparatus for producing biogas having a high methane content from a feed or substrate. Feed material is injected into a reactor having anaerobic microorganisms to form a bulk liquid in the reactor. The oxidation-reduction potential, pH, and temperature of the bulk liquid and the methane, carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulfide, and flow of the biogas is monitored. The amount of the feed material (substrate) fed to the reactor is adjusted in response to the monitoring parameters of the bulk liquid and biogas. A biomass recycle is provided to the reactor, thus increasing the reactor biomass retention time, or solids retention time within the reactor.