Method of vitally supporting microalgae in a flexible bioreactor

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016289629-A1
Application number	US-201615142964-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Apr 29, 2016
Priority date	Mar 31, 2015
Publication date	Oct 6, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

Some embodiments include a method. The method can include: inoculating a bioreactor with one or more first microorganisms and a first fluidic support medium, the bioreactor having one or more bioreactor walls at least partially enclosing a bioreactor cavity, being configured to be at least one of folded up or rolled up, and being sterile when the bioreactor is inoculated with the one or more first microorganisms, the one or more bioreactor walls having at least one bioreactor wall material, and the at least one bioreactor wall material being flexible and at least partially transparent; and vitally supporting the one or more first microorganisms with the bioreactor, a supply of light, and a supply of organic carbon. Other embodiments of related systems and methods are also disclosed.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method comprising:
inoculating a bioreactor with one or more first microorganisms and a first fluidic support medium, the bioreactor comprising one or more bioreactor walls at least partially enclosing a bioreactor cavity, being configured to be at least one of folded up or rolled up, and being sterile when the bioreactor is inoculated with the one or more first microorganisms, the one or more bioreactor walls comprising at least one bioreactor wall material, and the at least one bioreactor wall material being flexible and at least partially transparent; and vitally supporting the one or more first microorganisms with the bioreactor, a supply of light, and a supply of organic carbon, such that at least one of:
when the one or more first microorganisms are taxonomically classified in taxonomic family Haematococcaceae, at least one of an average density of the one or more first microorganisms is greater than or equal to approximately 12 grams per liter or an average maximum production rate of the one or more first microorganisms is greater than or equal to approximately 2.5 grams per liter per day;
when the one or more first microorganisms are taxonomically classified in taxonomic family Chlorellaceae, at least one of the average density of the one or more first microorganisms is greater than or equal to approximately 36 grams per liter or the average maximum production rate of the one or more first microorganisms is greater than or equal to approximately 9 grams per liter per day; or
when the one or more first microorganisms are taxonomically classified in taxonomic family Chlamydomonadaceae, at least one of the average density of the one or more first microorganisms is greater than or equal to approximately 7 grams per liter or the average maximum production rate of the one or more first microorganisms is greater than or equal to approximately 3 grams per liter per day.

2 . The method of claim 1 wherein:
the bioreactor further comprises:
one or more bioreactor fittings in communication with the bioreactor cavity, the one or more bioreactor fittings comprising at least one gas delivery fitting;
one or more gas delivery devices located within the bioreactor cavity, the one or more gas delivery devices being operable to inject gas into the bioreactor cavity to mix the one or more microorganisms; and
one or more flexible tubes located within the bioreactor cavity, the one or more flexible tubes comprising at least one gas delivery tube coupling the one or more gas delivery devices to the at least one gas delivery fitting.

3 . The method of claim 2 further comprising:
after vitally supporting the one or more first microorganisms with the bioreactor, autoclaving the bioreactor while the bioreactor is assembled to include the one or more bioreactor fittings, the one or more flexible tubes, and the one or more gas delivery devices;
after autoclaving the bioreactor, inoculating the bioreactor with one or more second microorganisms, the bioreactor being sterile when the bioreactor is inoculated with the one or more second microorganisms; and
after inoculating the bioreactor with the one or more second microorganisms, vitally supporting the one or more second microorganisms with the bioreactor.

4 . The method of claim 3 wherein:
autoclaving the bioreactor while the bioreactor is assembled to include the one or more bioreactor fittings, the one or more flexible tubes, and the one or more gas delivery devices further comprises:
autoclaving the bioreactor while the bioreactor is assembled to include the one or more bioreactor fittings, the one or more flexible tubes, and the one or more gas delivery devices and is the at least one of folded up or rolled up.

5 . The method of claim 2 wherein:
when the bioreactor is assembled to include the one or more bioreactor fittings, the one or more flexible tubes, and the one or more gas delivery devices, the bioreactor further comprises a greatest physical dimension; and
the bioreactor, as assembled, is configured to be the at least one of folded up or rolled up such that the greatest physical dimension is reducible by at least approximately 75%.

6 . The method of claim 2 wherein:
vitally supporting the one or more first microorganisms with the bioreactor comprises:
placing a parameter sensing means at a bioreactor fitting of the one or more bioreactor fittings; and
monitoring a cavity environment condition at the bioreactor cavity with the parameter sensing means.

7 . The method of claim 1 further comprising:
mechanically supporting the bioreactor with a support structure comprising a first frame and a second frame together being operable to mechanically support the bioreactor in interposition between the first frame and the second frame; and
supplying a temperature maintenance fluid to the first frame to maintain a set point temperature of the bioreactor through an exchange of thermal energy between the first frame and the bioreactor while vitally supporting the one or more first microorganisms with the bioreactor and while mechanically supporting the bioreactor with the support structure.

8 . The method of claim 1 wherein:
vitally supporting the one or more first microorganisms with the bioreactor comprises:
mixing the one or more first microorganisms within the first fluidic support medium by injecting gas into the first fluidic support medium;

and
the gas comprises gas bubbles comprising a diameter greater than or equal to approximately 40 micrometers and less than or equal to approximately 2 millimeters.

9 . The method of claim 1 wherein:
vitally supporting the one or more first microorganisms with the bioreactor comprises:
mixing the one or more first microorganisms within the first fluidic support medium by injecting gas into the first fluidic support medium at a volumetric flow rate of greater than or equal to approximately 10 liters per minute and less than or equal to approximately 60 liters per minute.

10 . The method of claim 1 wherein:
vitally supporting the one or more first microorganisms with the bioreactor comprises:
operating the bioreactor in substantially axenic conditions.

11 . A method comprising:
inoculating a bioreactor with one or more first microorganisms and a first fluidic support medium, the bioreactor comprising one or more bioreactor walls at least partially enclosing a bioreactor cavity, being configured to be at least one of folded up or rolled up, and being sterile when the bioreactor is inoculated with the one or more first microorganisms, the one or more bioreactor walls comprising at least one bioreactor wall material, and the at least one bioreactor wall material being flexible and at least partially transparent; vitally supporting the one or more first microorganisms with the bioreactor, a supply of light, and a supply of organic carbon, such that at least one of:
when the one or more first microorganisms are taxonomically classified in taxonomic family Haematococcaceae, at least one of an average density of the one or more first microorganisms is greater than or equal to approximately 12 grams per liter or an average maximum production rate of the one or more first microorganisms is greater than or equal to approximately 2.5 grams per liter per day;
when the one or more first microorganisms are taxonomically classified in taxonomic family Chlorellaceae, at least one of the average density of the one or more first microorganisms is greater than or equal to approximately 36 grams per liter or the average maximum production rate of the one or more first microorganisms is greater than or equal to approximately 9 grams per liter per

Assignees

• Heliae Dev Llc

Inventors

• Cizek Luke
• Oelschlager Mason
• Hayden Justin
• Olaizola Miguel
• Mccarty Mason
• Mazur Richard

Classifications

• C12M21/02 Primary

  Photobioreactors (culturing algae A01G33/00, A01H4/001, C12N1/12) · CPC title

• C12M37/00

  Means for sterilizing, maintaining sterile conditions or avoiding chemical or biological contamination (C12M23/38 takes precedence; filtration in general and filters per se B01D24/00-B01D41/00; autoclaves B01J3/04; treatment of microorganisms with electrical or wave energy C12N13/00) · CPC title

• C12M23/48

  Holding appliances; Racks; Supports (holding devices for laboratory apparatus B01L9/00) · CPC title

• C12M29/04

  Filters; Permeable or porous membranes or plates, e.g. dialysis · CPC title

• C12M23/26

  flexible (flexible containers for laboratory use B01L3/505) · CPC title