# US 10,767,150 B2 · Expansion kit for bioreactors used for performing microbial bio-electrosynthesis

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- Number: US 10,767,150 B2
- Document ID: US10767150B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/100,961
- Filed: 2014-12-02
- Published: 2016-10-27
- Granted: 2020-09-08
- Earliest claimed: 2013-12-02
- Assignees: Helmholtz-Zentrum für Umweltforschung GmbH-UFZ
- Applicants: Helmholtz-Zentrum Fur Umweltforschung GmbH—Ufz
- Inventors: Falk Harnisch; Steffi Hunger; Andreas Zehnsdorf; Daniel Beyer; Luis Felipe Morgado Rosa
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10767150B2

## CPC

- C12M 23/42: {Integrated assemblies, e.g. cassettes or cartridges}
- C12M 23/02: {Form or structure of the vessel (large containers B65D88/00)}
- C12M 23/08: {Flask, bottle or test tube}
- C12M 23/20: {Material Coatings (immunocoatings C12M25/00)}
- C12M 23/28: {disposable or single use}
- C12M 23/34: {Internal compartments or partitions}
- C12M 23/44: {Multiple separable units; Modules}
- C12M 25/02: {Membranes; Filters (filters or filtration in general B01D24/00-B01D41/00)}
- C12M 33/14: {with filters, sieves or membranes}
- C12M: APPARATUS FOR ENZYMOLOGY OR MICROBIOLOGY; {APPARATUS FOR CULTURING MICROORGANISMS FOR PRODUCING BIOMASS, FOR GROWING CELLS OR FOR OBTAINING FERMENTATION OR METABOLIC PRODUCTS, i.e. BIOREACTORS OR FERMENTERS}

## Abstract

The aim of the invention is to design an expansion kit (100) for bioreactors (20) which allows prior art bioreactors (20) to be expanded in a way that makes the same usable for microbial bio-electrosynthesis. In order to achieve said aim, the expansion kit (100) comprises a reaction chamber (21) which is open on one side and which has a window (23) in a sidewall (22), said window (23) being provided with a membrane (24).

## Claims

### Claim 1

An expansion kit for reversible introduction into a bioreactor for dividing the bioreactor into two separate reaction chambers and for performing microbial bio-electrosynthesis, wherein the expansion kit comprises a reaction chamber which is open at a top and which has a window in a sidewall, said window having a membrane disposed therein, characterized in that the expansion kit is formed such that, when the expansion kit has been introduced into the bioreactor: the reaction chamber of the expansion kit and a reaction chamber of the bioreactor are adjacent to each other on opposite sides of the sidewall and are connected to each other by the membrane disposed in the window of the sidewall, the expansion kit having a reactor lid that covers the open portions of both reaction chambers, the sidewall being coupled to and extending from the reactor lid such that the sidewall is substantially perpendicular to the reactor lid, the reactor lid having at least two through-openings into which electrodes are introduced in such a way that each of the electrodes projects into a separate one of the reaction chambers separated by the membrane and each of the electrodes functions as an anode or cathode.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The expansion kit according to claim 1, characterized in that the membrane is ion-selective.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The expansion kit according to claim 1, characterized in that the membrane is fixed by a frame to the reaction chamber of the expansion kit.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The expansion kit according to claim 1, characterized in that the reaction chamber of the expansion kit comprises a cross-section in the form of a circular segment, wherein the window is configured in the area of a chord of the circular segment.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The expansion kit according to claim 1, characterized in that the reaction chamber of the expansion kit comprises a rounded or angular indentation which is provided with a window, at the lowest point of the indentation.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The expansion kit according to claim 1, characterized in that the reaction chamber of the expansion kit comprises an electrochemically inert material.