Reactors, systems and processes for the production of biomass by culturing microorganisms in aqueous liquid culture medium circulating inner loop reactor which utilize nonvertical pressure reduction zones are described. Recovery and processing of the culture microorganisms to obtain products, such as proteins or hydrocarbons is described.

A system for treatment of a biomass material, said system comprising: a first vessel (3) in which said biomass material is treated under a first pressure; a second vessel (5) in which said biomass material is received and held at a second pressure which is lower than the first pressure; a transporting pipe (7) connecting an outlet (9) of the first vessel (3) with an inlet (11) of the second vessel (5) for transporting the biomass material from the first vessel to the second vessel; and a valve (15; 15′; 15) arranged in said transporting pipe (7), said valve being configured for controlling the flow of biomass material and fluid in the transporting pipe (7), wherein said transporting pipe (7) is asymmetrically connected to an outlet (33′; 33) of said valve (15; 15′; 15) such that a generated jet stream of biomass material delivered out from the outlet (33′; 33) of the valve (15; 15′; 15) is received closer to a transporting pipe longitudinal central axis (A1) than if the outlet (33′; 33) of the valve (15; 15′; 15) and the transporting pipe (7) would have been connected symmetrically.

A method for displacing a fluid and simultaneously gas enriching a liquid cell culture medium with a gas. The method includes injecting a controlled volume of a gas or gas mixture into a one chamber by using a gas flow controller, the injection taking place through a gas inlet into a volume of liquid. This injection produces bubbling and agitation of the volume of liquid; a build-up of gas or gas mixture due to buoyancy in a hermetic space formed by the volume of liquid and the chamber, and a pressure increase in the chamber until a sufficient controlled pressure is reached of less than or equal to 10 bar. This increase displaces the volume of liquid by a fluid outlet connecting the volume of liquid to the exterior of the chamber. Also provided are a device implementing the method and a cell culture system in a multi-well culture plate.

Systems and methods for improved flow properties in fluidic and microfluidic systems are disclosed. The system includes a microfluidic device having a first microchannel, a fluid reservoir having a working fluid and a pressurized gas, a pump in communication with the fluid reservoir to maintain a desired pressure of the pressurized gas, and a fluid-resistance element located within a fluid path between the fluid reservoir and the first microchannel. The fluid-resistance element includes a first fluidic resistance that is substantially larger than a second fluidic resistance associated with the first microchannel.

In one example in accordance with the present disclosure, a microfluidic device is described. The microfluidic device includes a reservoir to contain a first thermally expandable fluid, a first heater to heat the thermally expandable fluid in the reservoir, a channel extending from the reservoir and connected to the reservoir at a first opening, and a liquid volume obstructing the channel.

Provided is a method for the selective differentiation into M1 macrophages under a pressurized environment, and more particularly, a method for the selective differentiation of undifferentiated macrophages into M1 macrophages, the method including incubating the undifferentiated macrophages in an incubator under the pressurized environment. In addition, provided is a method for producing osteoclasts, the method including: incubating undifferentiated macrophages in an incubator under a pressurized environment to differentiate into M1 macrophages; and differentiating the differentiated M1 macrophages into osteoclasts.

A bioreaction container including a culture chamber configured to contain a culture solution and a life form in an inner space, the culture chamber having an open upper end; a chamber cover portion coupled to the upper end of the culture chamber, the chamber cover portion having a protruding tube provided on one side thereof so as to communicate with the inner space; a filter cap coupled to the protruding tube in an attachable/detachable manner so as to open/close the protruding tube; a gas introduction portion configured to penetrate the chamber cover portion and to communicate with the inner space so as to supply a predetermined gas into the inner space; and an acidity/basicity adjustment portion installed on the chamber cover portion while containing an adjustment solution that adjusts pH of the culture solution such that the adjustment solution is discharged into the inner space by pneumatic pressure.

The present invention provides a method for treatment of biomass material by fermentation, said method comprises a pre-treatment of the biomass material by thermal hydrolysis and wet explosion, resulting in an intermediate product having a dry matter concentration above 25% and temperature above 90° C. which is to be introduced to the fermentation, wherein a part of the content of the digestion tank used for the fermentation is recirculated and mixed with a part of the intermediate product from the pre-treatment.

A device for determining and monitoring the physiological state of microbial cultures in each individual microbioreactor of a microtiter plate, wherein a gas space of each microbioreactor of the microtiter plate is accessible via an inlet opening and outlet opening, includes means for shaking the microtiter plate and a gas supply system suitable for purging the gas space of each microbioreactor with a stream of purge gas in a purging phase. A shut-off device is arranged directly on each microbioreactor for interrupting the stream of purge gas. The flow resistances in the gas supply system and the flow resistance of each microbioreactor are configured so that the stream of purge gas in the purging phase is substantially equal in all of the microbioreactors. The device includes a measuring device configured to detect the physiological state of the microbial culture in each individual microbioreactor.

A pre-programmed non-feedback continuous feeding method based on mass balance of the substrate in the bioreactor for use in culture growth and maintenance is provided. The disclosed method does not rely on instrument, probe or operator feedback. The method provides an efficient and effective alternative to bolus feeding.