# US 2014/0193853 A1 · Bioprocessing

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- Number: US 2014/0193853 A1
- Document ID: US20140193853A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 14/196,589
- Filed: 2014-03-04
- Published: 2014-07-10
- Earliest claimed: 2009-05-20
- Assignees: Xyleco, Inc.
- Applicants: Xyleco, Inc.
- Inventors: Marshall Medoff; Thomas Craig Masterman
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140193853A1

## CPC

- C12M 29/12: {Pulsatile flow}
- B01F 23/231: by bubbling (mixers with gas or liquid agitation, e.g. with air supply tubes B01F33/40)
- B01F 23/2331: {characterised by the introduction of the gas along the axis of the stirrer or along the stirrer elements}
- B01F 23/23341: {with tubes surrounding the stirrer}
- B01F 25/211: {the injectors being surrounded by guiding tubes}
- B01F 25/2122: {Rotating during jetting}
- B01F 25/50: Circulation mixers, e.g. wherein at least part of the mixture is discharged from and reintroduced into a receptacle
- B01F 35/2132: {Concentration, pH, pOH, p(ION) or oxygen-demand (B01F35/2133 takes precedence)}
- B01F 35/221422: {Speed of rotation of the mixing axis, stirrer or receptacle during the operation}
- B01F 35/2215: {Temperature}
- C12M 27/00: {Means for mixing, agitating or circulating fluids in the vessel (by introduction of gas C12M29/06, C12M29/14, mixing in general or mixers per se B01F; mixing in apparatus for chemical or physical processes B01J)}
- C12M 27/02: {Stirrer or mobile mixing elements}
- C12M 27/18: {Flow directing inserts}
- C12M 29/00: {Means for introduction, extraction or recirculation of materials, e.g. pumps (pumps per se F04B)}
- C12M 29/06: {Nozzles; Sprayers; Spargers; Diffusers (per se B01F23/231, B01J19/26)}
- C12M 29/22: {Oxygen discharge}
- C12M 33/00: {Means for introduction, transport, positioning, extraction, harvesting, peeling or sampling of biological material in or from the apparatus (chemical or physical laboratory apparatus in general B01L, devices for taking cell samples A61B10/0045, withdrawing or distributing predetermined quantities of fluid B01L99/00)}
- C12M 41/02: {of foam (foam prevention during gasification of liquids B01D19/02)}
- C12M 41/12: {of temperature (controlling the temperature of chemical or physical processes B01J19/0013, heating or cooling apparatus for laboratory use B01L7/00)}
- C12M 41/26: {of pH}
- C12M 41/28: {of redox potential}
- C12M 41/32: {of substances in solution}
- C12M 41/34: {of gas}
- C12M 41/46: {of cellular or enzymatic activity or functionality, e.g. cell viability}
- C12M 41/48: {Automatic or computerized control (automatic analysis G01N35/00)}
- C12P 19/02: Monosaccharides (2-ketogulonic acid C12P7/60)
- C12P 19/14: produced by the action of a carbohydrase {(EC 3.2.x)}, e.g. by alpha-amylase {, e.g. by cellulase, hemicellulase}
- B01F 2101/44: Mixing of ingredients for microbiology, enzymology, in vitro culture or genetic manipulation
- B01F 2215/0463: Numerical power values
- B01F 2215/0481: Numerical speed values
- 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}
- B01F: MIXING, e.g. DISSOLVING, EMULSIFYING OR DISPERSING (mixing paints B44D3/06)
- C12P: FERMENTATION OR ENZYME-USING PROCESSES TO SYNTHESISE A DESIRED CHEMICAL COMPOUND OR COMPOSITION OR TO SEPARATE OPTICAL ISOMERS FROM A RACEMIC MIXTURE {(brewing of beer C12C; producing vinegar C12J; producing specific peptides or proteins C07K; producing enzymes C12N9/00; DNA or RNA concerning genetic engineering, vectors, e.g. plasmids, or their isolation, preparation or purification C12N15/00; measuring or testing processes involving enzymes or microorganisms C12Q; measuring or testing processes involving nucleic acid amplification reactions C12Q1/6844; fermentation processes to form a food composition, A21 or A23; compounds in general, see the relevant compound class, e.g. C01, C07)}

## Abstract

Bioreactors are provided that include a vessel and a jet mixer disposed in the vessel. Methods that utilize the bioreactors are provided, involving placing a microorganism or cells and a fluid medium in the bioreactor.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method comprising:
converting a particulate feedstock to a product by mixing the particulate feedstock and a fluid in a bioreactor, wherein
the bioreactor comprises a vessel, a jet mixing system comprising a plurality of jet flow agitators disposed in the vessel, at least one of which is configured to jet fluid upward, and at least another of which is configured to jet fluid downward.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the each jet flow agitator comprises a shaft, a shroud surrounding the shaft, and an impeller mounted on the shaft within the shroud, and the vessel has an arcuate bottom surface.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2, wherein a longitudinal axis of the shaft is offset laterally from a longitudinal axis of the vessel.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising delivering a process gas to the particulate and fluid in the bioreactor.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising contacting the particulate material with an enzyme or microorganism.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The method of claim 5, wherein the enzyme includes a cellulase.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the microorganism is selected from the group consisting of a bacteria, a yeast and a fungus.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein converting comprises fermentation.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the particulate material is converted to a product selected from the group consisting of hydrocarbons, proteins, enzymes, alcohols, xylitol, carboxylic acids, ketones, aldehydes alpha unsaturated acids and beta unsaturated acids.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the particulate material is converted to an alcohol selected from the group consisting of ethanol, propanol, propylene glycol, n-butanol, 1,4-butanediol and 1,3-propanediol.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the particulate material is converted to an acid selected from the group consisting of lactic acid, proprionic acid, butyric acid, succinic acid, 3-hydroxypropionic acid, salts of any of these acids, and mixtures of any of these acids and their respective salts

### Claim 12

A method of bioprocessing comprising:
agitating a liquid and a microorganism in a vessel of a bioreactor, using a jet mixing system comprising a plurality of jet flow agitators disposed in the vessel, at least one of which is configured to jet fluid upward, and at least another of which is configured to jet fluid downward.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, further comprising delivering a process gas to the vessel

### Claim 14 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, further comprising monitoring the conditions within the bioreactor.

### Claim 15 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, wherein monitoring comprises measuring a parameter selected from the group consisting of dissolved oxygen, foam level, and concentration.

### Claim 16 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, wherein the liquid includes particles mixed therein.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The method of claim 16, wherein agitating of the liquid disperses the particles that would settle at the bottom or top of the vessel in the absence of the agitation.