Electrochemical sensing devices and methods of using thereof employs a set of one or more sensor-integrated sampling wells or containers that operates with a pressure differential micro-valve to move controlled volume of sampled fluid within a controlled cell-growing environment. The differential micro-valve can be integrated into an instrumented well having one or more sensors to provide a high-throughput smart well plate platform for use in automation operation in diagnostics and drug discovery.

An algae cultivation system may include: a plurality of panels within a cultivation container, positioned along a first axis perpendicular to the gravitational force, wherein a cultivation volume is created between each pair of panels, and wherein the cultivation volumes are fluidly coupled so as to allow horizontal flow therebetween along the first axis; at least one first sparger, to distribute a first fluid into the container at a first operating flow rate; at least one second sparger, to distribute a second fluid into the container at a second operating flow rate; and at least one controller, to control the first operating flow rate and the second operating flow rate. The first operating flow rate may be adapted to allow turbulent mixing the algae in the cultivation container, and the second operating flow rate may be adapted to allow assimilation of materials in a liquid in the cultivation container.

A storage assembly for storing a plurality of specimens includes a frame, a plurality of modular storage units for perfusion and/or incubation of one or more specimens removably coupled to the frame, a sample transfer apparatus configured to retrieve a specimen holder from a chosen modular storage unit of the plurality of modular storage units, and a control unit communicatively coupled to the sample transfer apparatus. The control unit is configured to cause the sample transfer apparatus to retrieve a specimen from a modular storage unit of the plurality of modular storage units and deliver the specimen to a delivery position.

The present disclosure provides systems and methods for recycling gas in a reactor. An example of gas-recycling system comprises: a housing, a gas conduit, and a powered propeller. The housing encloses a gas space and a liquid space, wherein the gas space is configured to collect gas within a reactor. The powered propeller comprises a shaft having an upper end and a lower end; and a plurality of radial blades connected to the lower end of the shaft. Upon rotation of the powered propeller, the powered propeller is configured to: generate a suction to cause the collected gas to flow from the gas space to the liquid space through the conduit; cause fluid of the reactor to flow in a direction from the upper end of the shaft to the lower end of the shaft; and mix the liquid and the collected gas proximate the powered propeller.

A method of growing algae in a cultivation container is disclosed. In some the method may include: circulating, via the cultivation container, in a closed loop, a first predetermined amount of gas mixture comprising a first type of gas and at least one second type of gas, the gas mixture may enter the container via one or more entrance spargers and exit via at least one exit pipe, the first type of gas may contain CO.sub.2 at a known first amount; receiving signal indicative of the amount of CO.sub.2 or H.sub.2S, in the gas mixture; when the signal indicates that the amount of CO.sub.2 drops below a first predetermined level or when the signal indicates that the amount of H.sub.2S rises above a first predetermined level, extracting a second predetermined amount of the gas mixture from the cultivation container: and adding an amount of the first type of gas to the gas mixture, equal to the second predetermined amount.

A modular incubator includes a housing including one or more fastening mechanisms for attachment to a workstation frame, a platform located at the housing and defining a sample placement area, and a chamber wall structure coupled to the platform. The chamber wall structure is pivotable between a closed position against the platform to form a sample chamber and an open position in which a front end of the chamber wall structure is spaced apart from the platform to allow access to the sample placement area. The modular incubator further includes a lid coupled to and openable from the chamber wall structure to expose at least a portion of the chamber wall structure for viewing.

This disclosure relates to reaction container systems providing for headspace-based condensation, coalescing devices, and other features.

The present application relates to a bioreactor system for culturing cells, especially cells without cell walls; the bioreactor system includes: a container containing a hollow cylinder with a diameter of D1 and a height of H1, and a hollow circular truncated cone with an upper diameter of D2, a lower diameter of D3, and a height of H2, where the hollow cylinder is connected to a top surface of the hollow circular truncated cone, and D1=D2; an oscillator, configured to cause the container to make an eccentric motion according to a certain eccentricity and rotational speed; a ventilation device, configured to introduce an oxygen-containing gas from an upper portion of the container to the inside of the container, and a culture solution filled in the container, of which a top surface is exposed to the oxygen-containing gas; where the oscillator is configured to maintain the eccentric motion of the container, such that a ratio of the total liquid surface area to the volume (S/V) of the culture solution when in a steady state of motion is 5.65 or more, the turbulence kinetic energy is 2.73E−03 m.sup.2/s.sup.2 or more, and the flow field shear rate is 20.27/s or less, where the total liquid surface area is the sum of the contact area between the culture solution and the reactor wall surface and the contact area between the top surface and the gas.

Microorganisms present within a plurality of microorganism clusters immobilized in a porous support material may collectively define a supported bio-catalyst. When the microorganisms are effective to convert methane into one or more oxidized carbon compounds (e.g., methanotrophic bacteria), the supported bio-catalysts may be utilized to remove methane from methane-containing gas streams, such as those obtained from mining ventilation. Methods for processing a methane-containing gas stream may comprise interacting the gas stream with the supported bio-catalyst in substantial absence of a liquid phase, and obtaining a methane-depleted gas stream downstream from the supported bio-catalyst. Systems for processing a methane-containing gas stream may comprise the supported bio-catalysts housed in one or more vessels fluidly coupled to a source of methane-containing gas stream. A gas concentration in the methane-containing gas stream and/or the methane-depleted gas stream may be used to determine a current state or anticipated remaining lifetime of the supported bio-catalyst.

In a culturing method, microalgae are cultured in a culturing solution while a gas containing carbon dioxide is supplied to the culturing solution. In an ion concentration acquisition step, an acquired value of a concentration of hydrogen carbonate ions in the culturing solution is obtained. In an ion concentration adjustment step, in the case that the acquired value does not reside within a set concentration range that is set beforehand, at least one of a temperature or a pH of the culturing solution is adjusted, whereby the concentration of hydrogen carbonate ions in the culturing solution is adjusted to reside within the set concentration range.