A method of operating a bioreactor includes containing an algae slurry within the bioreactor for cultivation, discharging a portion of the algae slurry to a heat pump that circulates a refrigerant, and receiving the portion of the algae slurry at a first heat exchanger and transferring heat from the algae slurry to the refrigerant. The method further includes discharging a cooled algae slurry and a heated refrigerant from the first heat exchanger, receiving and compressing the heated refrigerant at a compressor and thereby discharging a compressed refrigerant, and receiving the compressed refrigerant at a second heat exchanger and transferring heat from the compressed refrigerant to a fluid. The method further includes discharging a cooled refrigerant and steam from the second heat exchanger, receiving and expanding the cooled refrigerant at an expansion valve, and receiving and utilizing the steam at a downstream application in fluid communication with the second heat exchanger.

The present invention relates to the field of degradation with hyperthermophilic organisms, and in particular to the use of hyperthermophilic degradation to produce heat and energy rich components including hydrogen and ethanol from a biomass. In some embodiments, a biomass is fermented in the presence of hyperthermophilic organisms to produce heat. The heat is used to heat a liquid which is used directly in a heat pump or radiant heat or to produce electricity or drive a steam turbine. In some embodiments, acetate is utilized as a substrate to produce energy by methanogenesis.

Plant for producing at least partially desulfurized biogas, comprising a biomass digester and/or post-digester, the digester and/or post-digester comprising: a chamber (1) in which an anaerobic digestion of the biomass takes place, leading to the production of biogas (2) and of digestate (3), a means for introducing an oxidizing gas, a desulfurization net (4) placed horizontally and fastened in the upper part of the chamber, and ropes (5) attached to said desulfurization net and which hang down to the biogas-digestate interface.

An apparatus for the automated processing of samples containing biological cells—in particular, of blood samples or other cell samples is provided. The apparatus has at least the following components: a sample receiving device configured to receive one or more samples; an auxiliary material receiving device configured to receive one or more auxiliary materials; a sample carrier receiving device configured to receive one or more sample carriers; a discharge device configured to discharge one or more samples from a discharge position; and a capture device configured to capture one or more discharged samples in a capture position to obtain one or more prepared samples; wherein the distance between the discharge position and the capture position can be adjusted to a prespecified height, and the apparatus further includes at least one temperature control device for controlling the temperature of at least one of the sample carriers.

Aspects are provided in relation to devices and systems for microorganism cell wall disruption. In this scenario, a device is provided for cell disruption of a microorganism suspension comprising (i) an inlet duct (1) of microorganisms, (ii) an annular channel (13) downstream of inlet duct (1) and in communication therewith, adapted for disruption of microorganism cells, the annular channel (13) being formed by an external part (7) and an internal part (8), the internal part being positioned inside the cavity formed by the external part (7) and (iii) an outlet duct (9) downstream of annular channel (13) and in communication therewith, for output of the ruptured microorganisms. A method is further provided that is associated with the device described above.

The disclosure provides biocompatible heat exchangers, artificial tissues, systems, and thermofluidic methods for spatiotemporal control of biological signaling and gene expression. The disclosure demonstrates that in heat exchangers containing embedded cells with heat-activatable transgenes, gene expression patterning can be tuned both spatially and dynamically by varying channel network architecture, fluid temperature, fluid flow direction, and stimulation timing in a user-defined manner and maintained in vivo.

To avoid cleaning costs and to reduce the risk of cross-contamination, a water bath for use in incubators includes a profiled receiver, open at least at the upper face, preferably at the end faces and the upper face, with receiver surfaces extending in the longitudinal direction. A prefabricated disposable vessel for liquid open at the upper face includes vessel walls that lie flush on the receiver surfaces of the receiver. Fastenings are used fix the disposable vessel on the receiver. The water bath also includes a liquid supply, designed for filling the disposable vessel with liquid.

Functional assays using reporter cell assays are described which probe the activity of at least one cell of interest. The ability to probe at least one cell is provided by using the microfluidic methods, devices and kits described herein. Assays combining both reporter cell signaling as well as binding assay signaling for at least one cell is also described herein.

A cell culture device includes plural three or more of culture vessels, a flow path that connects the plural culture vessels to each other, and a transfer control unit that performs transfer control to transfer a cell suspension housed in any of the plural culture vessels to any other of the plural culture vessels via the flow path.

A bioreactor vessel includes a base having a plurality of through openings, a lid connected to the base via a plurality of heat stakes, and a gas-permeable, liquid impermeable membrane sandwiched between the base and the lid and held in position by the plurality heat stakes.