Bench-Scale Bioreactor

About

Introduction: Bioreactors are important devices that support the production of pharmaceuticals, food, and treatment of wastewater. Experience in operating a bioreactor would benefit undergraduate students as young scientists and job seekers. However, bioreactors are rarely part of undergraduate learning curricula because of their high cost, complexity, and fragile quality. The incorporation of bioreactors into undergraduate teaching courses may be feasible if the cost of the unit is low and easy to operate. The impeller is the component of a bioreactor that stirs a liquid medium within the bioreactor vessel, keeping cells and nutrients mixed to stimulate growth. It is essential that the impeller spins smoothly, but existing designs tend to wobble during rotation, which can potentially stop the impeller�s rotation and compromise the biological environment for maximal growth. Thus, there is an unmet need for a more durable, modular, and inexpensive bioreactor system with an impeller that runs smoothly. Technology: Georgia State researchers designed a bench-scale bioreactor with a novel impeller design to ensure smooth rotation. The impeller has two parts: a modified cylindrical tube containing a magnetic stir bar and an axle extending through part of the tube around which the tube rotates. This allows the impeller to securely attach to the cap of the bioreactor vessel. Data have demonstrated that this design allows impellers to spin more smoothly and rapidly than known impellers. Results have also shown that this bioreactor design can be used for the cultivation of microorganisms in different conditions with predictable growth. In addition, the bioreactor system with this impeller design is modular, durable, and less expensive compared to existing bioreactor systems. This technology potentially allows bench-scale implementation of bioreactor systems and increases its accessibility to more education programs.