A fermentation device includes a fermenter. The fermenter includes a tank, augers, and a motor. The tank is horizontally arranged. A first end of the tank is connected with a material feeding port. A second end of the tank is connected with a material discharging port. A height of the material discharging port is not less than a height of the tank. Liquid raw material and solid raw material are added into the tank from the material feeding port. The augers are arranged in the tank. Each of the augers includes a central shaft and a blade. An inner edge of each blade is connected with a corresponding central shaft. A gap is defined between an outer edge of each blade and inner walls of the tank. The motor is connected with the augers and drives the augers to rotate in a first direction or a second direction.

This invention relates to modules and automated, integrated, end-to-end closed instruments for automated mammalian cell growth and mammalian cell transfection followed by nucleic acid-guided nuclease editing in live mammalian cells.

A gel-encapsulated cell production apparatus according to an embodiment has a first droplet generator, a second droplet generator, and a gel-encapsulated cell generator. The first droplet generator generates a first droplet in which a processed cell is encapsulated. The second droplet generator generates a second droplet in which a gelator is encapsulated. The gel-encapsulated cell generator is connected to the first droplet generator and the second droplet generator via a channel, and the gel-encapsulated cell generator blends the first droplet and the second droplet and generates a gel-encapsulated cell, which is the cell encapsulated in a gel originating in the gelator.

A multi-level port vessel includes a vessel body defining an interior volume. The vessel body has a front wall, a rear wall, two side walls, a bottom, and a top. The top is open and adapted to be covered by a removable lid. A vertically oriented mixing wheel is disposed within the interior volume. The vertically oriented mixing wheel has a substantially horizontal rotation axis when the vessel body is disposed on a substantially horizontal surface. A plurality of ports is disposed in one of the rear wall, the front wall, or the side walls. At least one port in the plurality of ports is located at an elevation that is at least partially encompassed by a projection of the perimeter of the vertically oriented mixing wheel.

A pneumatic bioreactor includes a vessel containing a fluid to be mixed and at least one mixing device driven by gas pressure. A first embodiment includes a floating impeller that rises and falls in the fluid as gas bubbles carry it upward to the surface where the gas is then vented, permitting the impeller to sink in the fluid. The floating impeller may be tethered to a second impeller with a flexible member and pulley. The mixing speed is controlled with electromagnets in the vessel acting upon magnetic material in the impeller or its guides. In another embodiment, floating pistons mix the fluid, pushing it through a mixing plate with one or more apertures. In a third embodiment, the mixing device is a rotating drum with bubble-catching blades and rotating mixing plates with apertures. The top of the vessel for these mixers may include a closed top and sterile filters.

The present invention relates to a microalgae culture system under external conditions that comprises a shallow-depth culture container, a rotation system for the generation of light-darkness cycles and re-suspension, which maximises the photosynthetic efficiency of the microalgae and homogenises the nutrients supplied such that the microalgae may adequately grow in all the areas of the photobioreactor, a gas exchange and temperature control system, which makes it possible to control and maintain the culture parameters under the optimal microalgae growth conditions, a filtration and self-cleaning system, an energy control and saving system, which makes it possible to maintain the desired conditions with the lowest energy expenditure, and a cover system, which filters ultraviolet and/or infrared radiation and makes it possible to control contaminations, the temperature and the evaporation.

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 fungal culture is provided that incorporates concentrations of Fenton reactants and white rot fungi biomass. These components synergize to degrade recalcitrant organic compounds such as lignins, perfluorochemicals including PFOA, plastics, and related compounds, particularly with 1.5 mM H.sub.2O.sub.2, 1 mM Fe.sup.2+, and Phanerochaete chrysosporium exhibiting lignin degrading capabilities comparable to cultures of Fenton-only reaction mediums with significantly higher concentrations of hydrogen peroxide. Both the fungi and the Fenton reactants work to degrade the organic compounds. Additionally, the Fenton reactants impose oxidative stress on fast-growing microbial competitors such as E. coli, selectively inhibiting the competing bacteria and their disadvantageous effects on white rot fungi activity. The white rot fungi recycle Fe(II) ions to reduce Fenton reactant input burden. An electro-Fenton reaction process can further reduce this burden by replenishing H.sub.2O.sub.2. The resulting systems and methods demonstrate more economical and sustainable treatment of recalcitrant organic compounds.

An anaerobic digestion system is provided that includes a blend tank operable to control and perform pre-treatment of feedstock. An anaerobic digester is operable to digest the feedstock provided from the blend tank in a totally enclosed oxygen-free environment within a specific temperature range. A bio-mass tank processes liquid digestate from the anaerobic digester. One or more baffles are positioned in the digester, with the one or more baffles providing for plug flow through at least a portion of the digester to create baffled zones that are at least partially operable independently of adjacent baffled zones. A bio-mass tank processes liquid digestate from the anaerobic digester. An energy source is coupled to the anaerobic digester.

An apparatus for hydrolysing a product, comprising a continuous conduit having an inlet for receiving the product and an outlet for discharging the product, the conduit being formed so as to follow a path that winds around a longitudinal axis as the conduit extends parallel to the longitudinal axis between the inlet and the outlet, and a heating system for heating at least part of the conduit. The conduit is rotatable about the longitudinal axis so as to transport product received in the inlet towards the outlet.