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US 4,654,308 AGranted
Bioreactor
AssigneeLa Corporation de l'Ecole Polytechnique
InventorsBechara F. Safi, Denis Rouleau, Raymond Mayer
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AssigneeLa Corporation de l'Ecole Polytechnique
InventorsBechara F. Safi, Denis Rouleau, Raymond Mayer
Estimating the term…
A bioreactor for the biochemical treatment of liquids containing organic matter, comprises an elongated, upwardly extending tubular container having inlet means for receiving the liquid to be treated and outlet means for discharging the treated liquid. A plurality of spaced-apart first and second trays are alternatively arranged above one another inside the container, each tray being apertured to provide liquid flow communication between the inlet and outlet means and adapted to support a respective bed of microorganism cells capable of reacting with the organic matter. The apertures of the first and second trays are arranged relative to one another to cause the liquid to flow laterally across the respective cell beds of the trays as the liquid flows from one tray to another. The bioreactor of the invention is particularly useful for the anaerobic fermentation of aqueous solutions of fermentable sugars, such as bisulfite liquors originating from the pulp and paper industry, to produce ethanol, as well as for the biotreatment of effluents from the cheese industry to reduce the chemical oxygen demand and to produce methane which may be used in the cheese plant to satisfy part of its energy requirement.
A bioreactor for the biochemical treatment of liquids containing organic matter, comprising an elongated, upwardly extending tubular container having inlet means for receiving the liquid to be treated and outlet means for discharging the treated liquid, a plurality of spaced-apart first and second trays, each of said first trays being arranged alternatively with said second trays inside said container, each said tray being apertured to provide liquid flow communication between said inlet and outlet means and adapted to support a respective bed of microorganism cells capable of reacting with said organic matter, the apertures of said first and second trays being arranged relative to one another to cause said liquid to flow laterally across the respective cells beds of said trays as said liquid flows from one tray to another, said trays being sufficiently close to one another such that upon reaction of said microorganism cells with said organic matter, microorganism cells projected from a bed supported by a respective one of said trays are deflected by a said tray located immediately above said respective one tray to deposit back onto said bed of said respective one tray, thereby substantially preventing said cells from being entrained by said liquid flow.
A bioreactor for the biochemical treatment of liquids containing organic matter, comprising:
A bioreactor for the biochemical treatment of liquids containing organic matter, comprising an elongated, upwardly extending tubular container having inlet means for receiving the liquid to be treated and outlet means for discharging the treated liquid, a plurality of spaced-apart first and second trays, each of said first trays being arranged alternatively with said second trays inside said container, each said tray being apertured to provide liquid flow communication between said inlet and outlet means and adapted to support a respective bed of microorganism cells capable of reacting with said organic matter, the apertures of said first and second trays being arranged relative to one another to cause said liquid to flow laterally across the respective cell beds of said trays as said liquid flows from one tray to another;
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.