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US 11,339,360 B2Granted
Culture systems and methods of using same
AssigneeAuburn University
InventorsQinghua He, Jin Wang, Matthew V. Hilliard
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Culture systems and methods of using same. The systems include a housing defining an inner space. The inner space includes a headspace and at least a portion of a reservoir. A surface for immobilizing cells is moveable between the headspace and the reservoir. The systems can be used for coculturing methanotrophs and phototrophs for processing biogas and wastewater, particularly from anaerobic digesters.
Claims27
A system comprising:
- a housing comprising a top and sides and defining an inner space extending between the sides and to the top;
- a headspace in an upper portion of the inner space;
- a reservoir comprising at least a first reservoir portion, wherein the first reservoir portion is in a lower portion of the inner space, the headspace and the reservoir are defined with respect to each other within the inner space by a horizontal plane spanning the inner space, and the headspace and the reservoir do not overlap within the inner space;
- and
- a surface comprising a surface portion capable of being cycled between the headspace and the reservoir, wherein the surface comprises cells adhered thereto, wherein the cells comprise a methanotroph and a phototroph.
2 more elements
A system comprising:
- a housing comprising a top and sides and defining an inner space extending between the sides and to the top;
- a headspace in an upper portion of the inner space;
- a reservoir comprising at least a first reservoir portion, wherein the first reservoir portion is in a lower portion of the inner space, the headspace and the reservoir are defined with respect to each other within the inner space by a horizontal plane spanning the inner space, and the headspace and the reservoir do not overlap within the inner space;
- a surface comprising a surface portion capable of being cycled between the headspace and the reservoir;
- a retractable press capable of being reversibly positioned against the surface;
- a retractable scraper capable of being reversibly positioned against the surface;
- and
- a sensor capable of sensing a condition of the surface, wherein the system is configured to position the retractable press and the retractable scraper against the surface in an automated manner when the condition is sensed by the sensor, wherein the condition comprises biofilm thickness.
5 more elements
A system comprising:
- a housing comprising a top and sides and defining an inner space extending between the sides and to the top;
- a headspace in an upper portion of the inner space;
- a reservoir comprising at least a first reservoir portion, wherein the first reservoir portion is in a lower portion of the inner space, the headspace and the reservoir are defined with respect to each other within the inner space by a horizontal plane spanning the inner space, and the headspace and the reservoir do not overlap within the inner space;
- and
- a surface comprising a surface portion capable of being cycled between the headspace and the reservoir, wherein the surface is configured in the form of a continuous conveyor belt capable of being moveable along a conveyor belt path proceeding through both the headspace and the reservoir, wherein the conveyor belt path comprises a zigzag portion, wherein the zigzag portion includes:
- a first upper end disposed in the headspace;
- a second upper end disposed in the headspace;
- and
- at least one internal lower portion positioned in the conveyor belt path between the first upper end and the second upper end and capable of being positioned below the first upper end and the second upper end.
6 more elements
A system comprising:
- a housing comprising a top and sides and defining an inner space extending between the sides and to the top;
- a headspace in an upper portion of the inner space;
- a reservoir comprising at least a first reservoir portion, wherein the first reservoir portion is in a lower portion of the inner space, the headspace and the reservoir are defined with respect to each other within the inner space by a horizontal plane spanning the inner space, and the headspace and the reservoir do not overlap within the inner space;
- and
- a surface comprising a surface portion capable of being cycled between the headspace and the reservoir, wherein:
- the surface is configured in the form of a continuous conveyor belt capable of being moveable along a conveyor belt path proceeding through both the headspace and the reservoir;
- the conveyor belt is positioned along the conveyor belt path by support shafts;
- at least a subset of the support shafts comprise long axes configured in a parallel orientation with respect to each other;
- one or more of the support shafts in the subset are translationally moveable with respect to one or more other of the support shafts in the subset in a direction orthogonal to the long axes while maintaining the parallel orientation;
- and
- translational movement of the one or more of the support shafts in the subset with respect to the one or more other of the support shafts in the subset changes an orientation of at least a portion of the surface with respect to the horizontal plane.
8 more elements
A method comprising:
- cultivating cells adhered to a surface portion of a system, wherein:
- the cells comprise a methanotroph and a phototroph;
- and
- the system comprises:
- a housing comprising a top and sides and defining an inner space extending between the sides and to the top;
- a headspace in an upper portion of the inner space;
- a reservoir comprising at least a first reservoir portion, wherein the first reservoir portion is in a lower portion of the inner space, the headspace and the reservoir are defined with respect to each other within the inner space by a horizontal plane spanning the inner space, and the headspace and the reservoir do not overlap within the inner space;
- and
- a surface comprising the surface portion, wherein the surface portion is capable of being cycled between the headspace and the reservoir;
- processing a gas in the headspace, wherein the gas comprises at least one of methane and carbon dioxide, and wherein the processing the gas comprises removing at least a portion of at least one of the methane and the carbon dioxide from the gas;
- and
- processing a liquid in the reservoir, wherein the liquid comprises at least one of inorganic nitrogen and inorganic phosphorus, and wherein the processing the liquid comprises removing at least a portion of at least one of the inorganic nitrogen and the inorganic phosphorus from the liquid.
9 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.