Anaerobic digestion is enhanced based on the coupling of electron transfer with microbial electrolytic cell. A traditional anaerobic digestion reactor is used as the main body, a microbial electrolytic cell applied with a micro voltage is constructed, and the electron transfer in the system is optimized by an immobilized conductor material, to establish an efficient electron output-transfer-consumption anaerobic digestion pathway to produce methane.

A process for fermenting syngas is provided which is effective for decreasing an amount of time needed to inoculate a main reactor. The process includes propagating a culture of acetogenic bacteria to provide an inoculum for a main reactor and fermenting syngas in the main reactor.

An apparatus for managing gas bubbles in a bioprocessing system includes a body portion having a underside surface, and an opening in the body portion. The body portion is configured for placement within a bioreactor vessel such that the underside surface of the body portion is disposed in a liquid within the bioreactor vessel. The underside surface of the body portion is configured to divert rising gas bubbles in the liquid towards the opening.

A photobioreactor includes a first and a second container extending along a longitudinal direction; the second container extending inside the first container, so as to delimit a first channel between the first and the second containers; and forming a second channel inside the second container; a first passage means capable of allowing the circulation of a fluid between the first channel and the second channel; a second passage means capable of allowing the circulation of the fluid between the first channel and the second channel, disposed above the first passage means; at least one light source; a gas injection means, configured so as to inject gas in the form of bubbles into the second channel; the circulating fluid being able to be exposed to a light source.

The present application provides a process for sequestering carbon dioxide to produce a biomass containing reaction product, the process comprising the steps of: I. contacting a raw carbon dioxide-containing feedstock with an absorption or dissolution medium to form a reagent stream comprising dissolved or absorbed inorganic carbon at least in the form of HCO.sub.3.sup.- and CO.sub.3.sup.2- wherein the HCO.sub.3.sup.- :CO.sub.3.sup.2- molar ratio in the reagent stream is at least about 0.8; II. contacting at least a portion of the reagent stream with a microbial broth in a bioreactor to produce a biomass-containing reaction product; III. separating the biomass-containing reaction product into a biomass product and a liquid stream; and IV. recycling at least a portion of the liquid stream to step i. of the process for use as, or as part of, the absorption or dissolution medium,wherein the pH of the absorption or dissolution medium is controlled to maintain the HCO.sub.3.sup.- :CO.sub.3.sup.2- molar ratio in the reagent stream at least about 0.8.

A bioreactor includes a plurality of spargers and a plurality of vertical circulation loops. A first vertical circulation loop of the plurality of vertical circulation loops includes a first sparging region and a first return region. The first vertical circulation loop is in liquid communication with one or more other loops of the plurality of vertical circulation loops. The first vertical circulation loop is characterized by an individual loop mass transfer coefficient. A controller is coupled to the plurality of spargers and configured to control the plurality of spargers together such that a cumulative mass transfer coefficient of the plurality of vertical circulation loops is within a threshold of the individual loop mass transfer coefficient associated with the first vertical circulation loop.

An airlift bioreactor includes a body, a first sparging region, a second sparging region, a first sparger configured to sparge a first gas within the first sparging region, a second sparger configured to sparge a second gas within sparging region, and a controller coupled to the first sparger and the second sparger. The controller is configured to control a first flow rate associated with the first sparger and a second flow rate associated with the second sparger.

Provided are improved compositions and methods for establishing, maintaining, and testing a sample in a controlled environment. The improved apparatus allows introduction and extraction of various desired compositions to and from the sample, while maintaining a sealed controlled environment to minimize experimental variability and other repercussions of system perturbation.

An apparatus for simulating an airway, including: an air channel having a central portion with an air inlet at a first end and an air outlet at a second end opposite the first end; and a vascular channel adjacent to the central portion of the air channel, the vascular channel being separated from an interior of the central portion of the air channel by a porous membrane, the air channel being configured to conduct air from the air inlet through the central portion such that air moves adjacent to the porous membrane.

The invention relates to a method for recovering a biocatalytically produced organic substance from a reaction mixture, comprising—providing a reaction mixture, wherein the organic substance is produced using a biocatalyst, which reaction mixture comprises a substrate for the biocatalyst in a continuous aqueous phase, and wherein further a product recovery phase is present into which the organic substance migrates or onto which the organic substance absorbs or adsorbs; and—separating the product recovery phase comprising the produced substance from the aqueous phase and the biocatalyst. The invention further relates to a bioreactor system for biocatalytically producing a substance, comprising an apparatus, said apparatus comprising a reaction compartment (11) situated in a lower part of the apparatus and a separator compartment (9).