The invention is directed to a process to convert carbon dioxide to methane by contacting an aqueous solution comprising dissolved carbon dioxide with an electron charged packed bed comprising of a carrier, suitably activated carbon granules, and a biofilm of microorganisms under anaerobic conditions, wherein more than 90 mol % of the dissolved carbon dioxide in the aqueous solution is present as a bicarbonate ion and/or as a carbonate ion.

A bioreactor includes a fixed bed for culturing cells and a sensor system for sensing a density of the cells in the fixed bed. The sensor may be selected from the group comprising: (a) a sensor for measuring impedance across at least a portion of the fixed bed; (b) a flowmeter for detecting a rate of flow of liquid associated with the fixed bed; (c) a sensor for measuring a pressure differential in a flow of liquid through the fixed bed; (d) a monitor, such as a light sensor or microscope, for detecting light from a light source for projecting light on or in the fixed bed, wherein the detected or measured characteristic is indicative of cell density in the fixed bed; (e) a chemical sensor within the fixed bed for detecting a chemical indicative of cell density in the fixed bed. Related sensor arrangements, systems, and methods are also disclosed.

A packed-bed bioreactor is provided that includes: a vessel having an interior cavity defined by an outer wall; and a center column disposed within the interior cavity. The center column includes a columnar sidewall defining an inner region within the center column, the columnar sidewall separating the inner region from an outer region within the interior cavity. The bioreactor further includes a cell culture substrate disposed in the outer region of the cavity, the cell culture substrate surrounding the center column; at least one port extending through the vessel for at least one supply and removal of media to or from the interior cavity; and a fountain head element disposed above the center column.

This invention is directed to a method for three-dimensional cultivation of proliferating plant cells in a packed bed bioreactor, the bioreactor comprising at least one packed bed chamber configured to confine said proliferating plant cells within it such that the proliferating plant cells become a three-dimensional stationary biomass phase; and At least one container comprising a fluid media, the fluid media is configured to flow through said proliferating plant cells stationary biomass phase, wherein, the flow of the fluid media through the proliferating plant cells stationary biomass phase allows transfer of compounds from the fluid media into the cells and vice versa in low sheer forces within the at least one packed bed chamber thereby imitating natural growth environment of the proliferating plant cells within the 3D bioreactor.

This invention discloses a three-dimensional (3D) bioreactor for large scale expansion of immune cells and methods of use. The 3D bioreactor comprising at least one packed bed chamber comprising at least one porous scaffold; at least one porous scaffold coated with one or more extra cellular matrix protein (ECM); at least one container comprising a fluid media, the fluid media is configured to flow through said packed bed chamber with at least one porous coated scaffold; and at least one population of immune cells suspended in the fluid media, wherein, the at least one porous scaffold coated with said ECM is creates a stationary niche having low shear forces that imitate the natural growth environment of the immune cells and allows expansion of the immune cells population that flow through the coated porous scaffold in large scale.

The invention relates to a method of increasing the yield of virus, virus particles, or viral vectors from host cells in a bioreactor. The invention provides a reproducible and robust method and system of determining and controlling the optimal time of infection of host cells using a correlation of process air parameters including Air flow, O.sub.2 flow, and respective trends thereof resulting in increased virus yield.

Described herein is a beads-free bioprocessor as an automated and cost-effective T cell processing and manufacturing platform. T cells are a core component in CAR T cell therapies for cancer treatment, but are difficult to manufacture to scale in clinically relevant quantities. The 3D bioprocessor provides an alternative device that is scalable, beads-free, easy-to-use, and cost-effective for using CAR T cell therapy in cancer immunotherapy. Besides CAR T cell application, this platform technology has potential for many other applications such as cancer cell isolation.

The invention relates to a method of increasing the yield of virus, virus particles, or viral vectors from host cells in a fixed-bed bioreactor by specifically modifying the dissolved oxygen levels in the media.

We have modified a commercially-available adherent cell culture bioreactor in several ways to increase productivity of cultured cells, while decreasing contamination risk. We found that modifying a commercially-available adherent cell culture bioreactor to provide for slower cell culture medium flow unexpectedly and dramatically increases the productivity of the cultured adherent cells. We also developed a new sampling manifold configuration and new way of taking samples, to reduce contamination risk.

The present invention discloses a respirator for measuring a respiratory rate of a biofilm. The respirator includes a body, a carbon dioxide absorption tube and a perforated partition disposed in an interior of the body. The perforated partition divides the interior of the body into an oxygen mass-transfer stir zone provided with a stirring device and a biofilm reaction zone for placing MBBR fillers. The carbon dioxide absorption tube is provided with an air vent and contains a solution capable of absorbing CO.sub.2. The perforated partition has a first hole corresponding to a middle portion and a lower portion of the perforated partition and acting as a liquid-exchange channel, and a second hole corresponding to an upper portion of the perforated partition and acting as a gas-exchange channel, and the oxygen mass-transfer stir zone is communicated with the biofilm reaction zone through the liquid-exchange channel and the gas-exchange channel. On one hand, sufficient gas-liquid exchange of the oxygen mass-transfer stir zone and the biofilm reaction zone is ensured, and on the other hand damage to the biofilm on the MBBR fillers by the stirring device is prevented. The respiratory dynamic characteristics of the biofilm on the fillers are determined in situ without damage. The measuring process is simpler and more rapid, with more accurate and efficient test results.