A biological production system includes a mixing vessel and an agitation device. The mixing vessel includes an outer housing, an internal mixing structure, and a reaction chamber. The mixing vessel is configured to provide low shear agitation to materials in the reaction chamber in response to force from the agitation device.

The present invention relates to a process for production of fermentation products, including bioethanol by non-pressurized pre-treatment, enzymatic hydrolysis and fermentation of waste fractions containing mono- and/or polysaccharides, having a relatively high dry matter content. The process in its entirety, i.e. from non-pressurized pre-treatment over enzymatic hydrolysis and fermentation to sorting of fermentable and non-fermentable solids can be processed at a relatively high dry matter content in a single vessel or similar device using free fall mixing for the mechanical processing of the waste fraction.

A system for digesting biodigestible feed that preferably includes the steps of comminuting the feed, introducing feed, an oxygen-containing gas, an accelerant, and bacteria into a digestion zone, the bacteria being suitable for digesting the feed under aerobic, anaerobic, and anoxic conditions. The contents of the digestion zone can be changed from aerobic operation to either anoxic or anaerobic operation, or vice versa, without changing the bacteria in the digestion zone.

A multi-mode magnetic treatment device combining a permanent magnetic field and an electromagnetic field includes a base, a sample stand, an electromagnetic mechanism, a permanent magnetic mechanism, a permanent magnetic mechanism motion drive unit, a sample stand ascent-descent drive unit and a control system. The sample stand, the electromagnetic mechanism and the permanent magnetic mechanism are mounted on the base. The electromagnetic mechanism and the permanent magnetic mechanism are connected to the control system. The permanent magnetic mechanism is mounted on the base through the permanent magnetic mechanism motion drive unit. The sample stand is mounted on the base through the sample stand ascent-descent drive unit. A magnetic field of the electromagnetic mechanism and a magnetic field of the permanent magnetic mechanism respectively act on the sample stand to apply a rotational permanent magnetic force and an alternating electromagnetic force to a sample.

A heating apparatus (10) for a bioreactor (70), wherein the heating apparatus has a transparent body (20) that allows for direct visualization of a bioreactor culture and is adapted to be removably coupled to and provide customized heating to one or more different types of bioreactor vessels (72).

A device for cell differentiation, which may be used for culturing cells for example, includes an enclosure defining a liquid-receiving volume for receiving a liquid media, and an insert received in the enclosure. The insert includes a peripheral wall circumscribing an apical volume and having an opening in a bottom end of the insert. A membrane extends across the opening and defines pores sized to receive cells, with an apical side of the membrane adapted to receive cells thereon. The membrane and the peripheral wall separate the liquid-receiving volume into an apical volume within the insert and a basal volume below the membrane within the enclosure. A source of a pressurized fluid is in fluid flow communication with the basal volume to define a basal pressure in the basal volume that is greater than an apical pressure in the apical volume acting against the apical side of the membrane.

An agitator for a bioreactor includes an agitator shaft having an agitator unit with an agitator blade receiving portion and at least one agitator blade arranged on the agitator blade receiving portion. The at least one agitator blade is movable between a first angular position and a second angular position, wherein the at least one agitator blade is oriented at a first angle of attack in the first angular position and at a second angle of attack in the second angular position.

A system and method for compartmentalizing micro-carriers in a bioreactor includes a container configured to store micro-carriers and a vessel configured to contain a fluid so as to prevent the micro-carriers from entering the vessel during sterilization, shipping, storage, or other pre-use handling of the system. One or more addition lines connect the container and the vessel such that the vessel is in fluid communication with the vessel. The one or more addition lines are contactable by at least one blocking element configured to reversibly block fluid flow between the container and the vessel. The container, addition lines, and vessel are configured to allow the micro-carriers to be injected into the vessel at any point during a cell culture run. The vessel may also include a rotatable wheel, a harvest port configured to allow for the removal of the micro-carriers from the vessel, and a media removal port comprising a retention screen for removing spent medium.

A vessel having a mixer that ensures a homogeneous cell distribution in dispensed quantities. The vessel has a mixer therein for stirring contents of the vessel and an orifice in a lower wall to which a cell dispenser is attached. The cell dispenser dispenses quantities of suspended cells having a homogeneous cell distribution.

The invention includes a bioreactor system for growing a photosynthetic culture in an aqueous liquid and harvesting the photosynthetic culture. The present invention further relates to a method for growing a photosynthetic culture in an aqueous liquid and harvesting the photosynthetic culture. The present invention further relates to a use of a harvester system arranged to collect at least part of the scooped photosynthetic culture in a photo bioreactor system.