A bioreactor for the production of biomass configured to contain at least 15 liters, with an external support structure displaying a general annular shape, an internal tank being configured to be secured inside and supported by the external support structure. The internal space of the internal tank is free of any internal structure. The bioreactor includes a sparger located at a closed extremity of the internal tank. The sparger is configured to generate bubbles displaying a diameter of at least 5 millimeters. The sparger and the internal tank are arranged in a way that the generated bubbles form one bubble column once the internal tank is filled with liquid and the sparger is fed with gas, the bubble column enabling the liquid to be put in motion.

A sparger device includes a sparge tube having opposed distal ends, an inlet opening, and a plurality of sparge holes along a longitudinal extent of the sparge tube between the opposed distal ends, and a central hub coupled with the sparge tube at a point intermediate the opposed distal ends of the sparge tube, the central hub having a fluid passageway in fluid communication with the sparge tube via the inlet opening.

A cell culture device includes a culture tank, a drive unit, a controller, a first supply system, and a second supply system. The culture tank stores a culture solution containing cells. The drive unit causes the culture solution to flow while being into contact with a gas in the culture tank 1. The plurality of supply systems supply oxygen to the culture tank. The controller drives the first supply system in accordance with the fact that a drive speed of the drive unit has reached a specific value. The controller drives the second supply system in accordance with the fact that an amount of oxygen supplied by the first supply system has reached a maximum or set value.

A cell culture device includes a culture tank, a drive unit, and a controller. The culture tank stores a culture solution containing cells. The drive unit causes the culture tank to perform a shaking operation and thereby causes the culture solution to flow while being into contact with a gas in the culture tank. The controller controls an operation of the drive unit such that a shaking speed of the culture tank increases continuously or intermittently along with the passage of time.

Compositions and methods for a hybrid biological and chemical process that captures and converts carbon dioxide and/or other forms of inorganic carbon and/or CI carbon sources including but not limited to carbon monoxide, methane, methanol, formate, or formic acid, and/or mixtures containing CI chemicals including but not limited to various syngas compositions, into organic chemicals including biofuels or other valuable biomass, chemical, industrial, or pharmaceutical products are provided. The present invention, in certain embodiments, fixes inorganic carbon or CI carbon sources into longer carbon chain organic chemicals by utilizing microorganisms capable of performing the oxyhydrogen reaction and the autotrophic fixation of CO.sub.2 in one or more steps of the process.

The invention described herein presents compositions and methods for a multistep biological and chemical process for the capture and conversion of carbon dioxide and/or other forms of inorganic carbon into organic chemicals including biofuels or other useful industrial, chemical, pharmaceutical, or biomass products. One or more process steps utilizes chemoautotrophic microorganisms to fix inorganic carbon into organic compounds through chemosynthesis. An additional feature described are process steps whereby electron donors used for the chemosynthetic fixation of carbon are generated by chemical or electrochemical means, or are produced from inorganic or waste sources. An additional feature described are process steps for recovery of useful chemicals produced by the carbon dioxide capture and conversion process, both from chemosynthetic reaction steps, as well as from non-biological reaction steps.

A closure 1; 1 for a bioreactor 200; 200; 200, said closure being configured for being connectable to a container 100; 100; 100 such that the closure 1; 1 and the container 100; 100; 100 together constitutes the bioreactor 200; 200; 200, wherein the closure 1; 1 comprises an impeller device 11 comprising an impeller shaft 13 and impeller blades 15 mounted to the impeller shaft 13, wherein said impeller device 11 is mounted to the closure 1; 1 such that the impeller shaft 13 and the impeller blades 15 protrude into the container 100; 100; 100 when the closure 1; 1 is connected to the container 100; 100; 100 and a gas delivery device 21 which is arranged in the closure 1; 1 such that it passes from a gas inlet 23 at an outside surface 3b of the closure 1; 1 to an inside surface 3a of the closure 1; 1 and protrudes from the inside surface 3a such that a gas outlet 25 of the gas delivery device is provided inside the container 100; 100; 100 when the closure 1; 1 is connected to the container 100; 100; 100.

A bioreactor chamber for growing and/or maturing a tissue. The chamber includes a container for containing a culture medium and securing means configured to secure inside the container a flexible support that is permeable to the culture medium in which cells that will form the tissue are arranged. The chamber further includes mechanical stimulation means which generates a cyclical movement of the flexible support by means of a pressure surface which pushes the support by intermittently contacting the flexible support.

An impeller assembly for a bioprocessing system includes a hub, a plurality of blades disposed along a circumferential direction of the hub and spaced apart from each other, and at least one vent hole in the impeller assembly providing a pathway for gas to travel from an area beneath the impeller assembly to an area above the impeller assembly.

A photobioreactor (PBR) cell comprising a riser portion in the form of a tube; a downcomer portion in the form of a tube; a means of joining the riser portion and the downcomer portion to allow liquid flow; and an aeration means.