O presente trabalho apresenta o biorreator anaeróbio contínuo de leito fixo ordenado como alternativa ao tratamento de efluentes contendo os íons \'CU POT.2+\' e \'CD POT.2+\', sendo que cada metal foi estudado isoladamente. O biorreator operou sempre com um tempo de detenção hidráulica de 12 à 15 horas, com uma água residuária sintética simulando o esgoto sanitário, na concentração de 500 mg \'0 IND.2\'/L (em termos de DQO), a uma temperatura de 30°C. Durante a fase na qual o biorreator operou com água residuária em condições metanogênicas o biorreator foi alimentado, em condições distintas, com concentrações crescentes de \'CU POT.2+\' e \'CD POT.2+\'. O acúmulo dos metais na matriz de imobilização levou ao bioreator apresentar instabilidade na operação, sendo determinadas as concentrações críticas para o \'CU POT.2+\' (50,8 mg \'CU POT.2+\'/L) e para o \'CD POT.2+\' (29,8 mg \'CD POT.2+\'/L). Durante a operação nas condições metanogênicas foi observado o efeito tóxico pela diminuição na eficiência de remoção de matéria orgânica, mas sem perder a estabilidade operacional até que as concentrações críticas foram atingidas. A partir dos valores das concentrações críticas, o biorreator foi operado em condições sulfetogênicas em duas relações DQO/[\'SO IND.4\'POT.2-\'] distintas (0,68 e 1,99 para o uma concentração média de 36 mg \'CU POT.2+\'/L; e 0,69 e 8,02 para uma concentração média de 27 mg \'CD POT.2+\'/L). Nas operações em condições sulfetogênicas, o biorreator operou de maneira estável, no entanto, não foi capaz de remover todo o metal alimentado. / This work presents the anaerobic continuous bioreactor with fixed-structured bed as a viable configuration of treatment of wastewater containing \'CU POT.2+\' and \'CD POT.2+\' ions. Each metallic ion were studied separately. The bioreactor was operated with 12 to 15 hours of hydraulic retention time, with a synthetic wastewater simulating domestic sewage (500 mg \'0 IND.2\'/L, in COD terms), at 30°C. In methanogenic conditions, the bioreactor was fed with crescent amount of \'CU POT.2+\' and \'CD POT.2+\'. The metal accumulation in the irnrnobilization matrix caused instability on bioreactor when achieving the critical concentrations for \'CU POT.2+\' (50,8 mg \'CU POT.2+\'/L) and for \'CD POT.2+\' (29,8 mg \'CD POT.2+\'/L). Also it was observed that this crescent metal concentration affected the efficiency of bioreactor in removing organic matter, although without operational instability until the system reach these critical metal concentrations. The bioreactor was operated in sulfidogenic conditions fed with a wastewater containing \'CU POT.2+\' and \'CD POT.2+\' at critical concentrations considering two different COD/[\'SO IND.4\'POT.2-\'] (0,68 and 1,99 for a mean influent \'CU POT.2+\' concentration of 36 mg \'CU POT.2+\'/L; and 0,69 and 8,02 para for a mean influent \'CD POT.2+\' concentration of 27 mg \'CD POT.2+\'/L). During the sulfidogenic conditions operations the bioreactor operated showing stability, however the system was not able to achieve the maximum efficiency in metal removal.

L’organisme humain présente de nombreuses constantes de régénération tissulaires et c’est cette caractéristique essentielle qui maintient l’équilibre physiologique. Toutefois, l’existence de lésions importantes provoquée par un déséquilibre interne ou externe peut empêcher l’organisme de s’auto-régénerer. Dans ce cas, l’application des biomatériaux développés pour des applications biomédicales peuvent améliorer le processus de guérison. Pour les applications en tissus durs, les biomatériaux doivent posséder des propriétés similaires aux matrices naturelles tant sur le plan biologique que physico-mécanique. Dans les applications en bioingénierie osseuse, les composites à base de collagène (Col) et d’hydroxiapatite (HA) sont devenus tellement performant qu’ils peuvent être classifiés comme des matériaux biomimétiques. Cette thèse propose la production d’une matrice 3-D poreuse à base d’HA et de Col (50:50wt%). Ce composite réticulé par le glutaraldéhyde a été caractérisé par des différentes techniques et servira de support pour la culture cellulaire. Des cellules estromales ostéoprogénitrices ont été cultivées dans un environnement statique et dynamique (deux vitesse de flux) et leurs capacités de colonisation ainsi que leurs comportements d’adhésion, de prolifération, de différentiation seront observés. A travers les résultats de diffraction de rayons X et de spectroscopie infrarouge, il est possible d’affirmer la présence dans la matrice collagène d’une phase minérale peu cristalline constituée par de l’hydroxiapatite carbonatée du type-B déficiente en calcium. La viabilité cellulaire a été fortement influencée par les systèmes de culture au cours des 21 jours. Les résultats du système dynamique en haute vitesse montrent une excellente capacité du composite à supporter les processus cellulaires. Les cellules sont capables d’adhérer, de proliférer et de coloniser la matrice tridimensionnelle. / The progress in Tissue Engineering area allows the development of biomaterials that mimic the properties of natural tissues. For biomedical applications in mineralized tissues, composites based on hydroxyapatite (HA) and collagen (Col) have presented good results when implanted in vivo. The aim of this work was to produce a 3-D matrix and to observe the cell behaviour when stromal cells are cultured in contact with HA-Col scaffold under static and dynamic conditions. For in vitro biological evaluation, osteoprogenitor human cells (Stro+1A cells) were grown and their colonization capacity and adhesion, proliferation and differentiation behaviour were quantified. Two perfusion flow rates (0,03ml/min and 0,3ml/min) were proposed for dynamic culture. The HA-Col composite was prepared by reorganization of Col fibrils simultaneously with HA crystal nucleation and precipitation from calcium and phosphate rich solutions. Afterwards, the composites were crosslinked and sterilized by gamma radiation. Stro+1A cells were inoculated (5x105 cells/sample) into the scaffolds and cultured over 21 days in a humid incubator at 37°C and 5% CO2. Infrared spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction results suggested a calcium-deficient hydroxyapatite as mineral phase. About cell culture, the cell number increased under higher flow rate dynamic culture. By scanning electron microscopy and histological sections, we observed cells adhered and spread inside colonized scaffolds.

<p>There are many types of bioreactors used for producing bacteria populations in commercial, medical and research applications. </p><p>This report presents a systematic discussion of some of the most important models corresponding to the well known reproduction kinetics such as the Michaelis-Menten kinetics, competitive substrate inhibition and competitive product inhibition. We propose a modification of a known model, analyze it in the same manner as known models and discuss the most popular types of bioreactors and ways of controlling them. </p><p>This work summarises much of the known results and may serve as an aid in attempts to design new models.</p>

There are many types of bioreactors used for producing bacteria populations in commercial, medical and research applications. This report presents a systematic discussion of some of the most important models corresponding to the well known reproduction kinetics such as the Michaelis-Menten kinetics, competitive substrate inhibition and competitive product inhibition. We propose a modification of a known model, analyze it in the same manner as known models and discuss the most popular types of bioreactors and ways of controlling them. This work summarises much of the known results and may serve as an aid in attempts to design new models.

This thesis characterizes the feedback between the instructor and student teams engaged in a Virtual Bioreactor (VBioR) Laboratory Project. The project allows senior-level chemical, biological, and environmental engineering students to apply their developing knowledge and skills in an industrially situated process optimization project. Feedback is an important tool for instructors to use to scaffold student learning, especially in the context of an ill-structured project. An ethnographic approach is taken for data collection; audio recordings and field notes are taken throughout the duration of the project. The characterization of feedback uses an episodes framework for discourse analysis to consider similarities and differences. Using this framework, thematic codes have been developed through a semi-emergent process to describe the content of Design Memo Meetings (DMMs) between an instructor and student teams. Student work products, post-DMM surveys, and post-project interviews are also considered as data sources for this research. The results of this research show that instructor feedback in this project is adaptable, conforming to the status of the student team at the beginning of the DMM. This adaptability is highlighted by differences in DMM themes that are supported by differences in the Design Strategy Memos that student teams bring to the meeting. Student perceptions of the DMM feedback are also presented. / Graduation date: 2013

Bioreactors are devices used for the growth of tissues in a laboratory environment. They exist in many different forms, each designed to enable the production of high-quality tissues. The dynamic environment within bioreactors is known to significantly affect the growth and development of the tissue. Chondrocytes, the building blocks of articular cartilage, for example, are stimulated by mechanical stresses such as shear, as compared with those in tissues grown under static incubation conditions. On the other hand, high shear can damage cells. Consequently the shear-stress level has to be controlled in order to optimize the design and the operating conditions of bioreactors. Spinner flasks have been used for the production of articular cartilage in vitro. Assuming the existence of a relation between the cellular glycosaminoglycan (GAG) synthesis and the local shear stresses on the construct surfaces, this research focuses on the development of a model for cartilage growth in such devices. The flow produced in a model spinner flask is characterized experimentally using particle-image velocimetry (PIV). A computational fluid dynamic (CFD) model validated with respect to the laboratory measurements is constructed in order to predict the local shear stresses on the construct surfaces. Tissue growth experiments conducted in the prototype bioreactor permit construct histologies and GAG contents to be analyzed and then correlated with the shear-stress predictions. The integration of this relation into the CFD model enables the prediction of GAG synthesis through convective effects. Coupling this convective model to an existing diffusive model produces a complete cartilage-growth model for use in aiding the optimization of existing bioreactors, and in the design of new ones.

Microalgae cultivation has received much research attention in recent decades due to its high photosynthetic productivity and ability to produce biofuel feedstocks as well as high value compounds for the health food, cosmetics, and agriculture markets. Microalgae are conventionally grown in open pond raceways or closed photobioreactors. Due to the high water contents of these cultivation systems, they require large energy inputs for pumping and mixing the dilute culture, as well as concentrating and dewatering the resultant biomass. The energy required to operate these systems is generally greater than the energy contained in the resultant biomass, which precludes their use in sustainable biofuel production. To address this challenge, we designed a novel photobioreactor inspired by higher plants. In this synthetic leaf system, a modified transpiration mechanism is used which delivers water and nutrients to photosynthetic cells that grow as a biofilm on a porous, wicking substrate. Nutrient medium flow through the reactor is driven by evaporation, thereby eliminating the need for a pump. This dissertation outlines the design, construction, operation, and modeling of such a synthetic leaf system for energy positive biofuel production. First, a scaled down synthetic leaf reactor was operated alongside a conventional stirred tank photobioreactor. It was demonstrated that the synthetic leaf system required only 4% the working water volume as the conventional reactor, and showed growth rates as high as four times that of the conventional reactor. However, inefficiencies in the synthetic leaf system were identified and attributed to light and nutrient limitation of growth in the biofilm. To address these issues, a modeling study was performed with the aim of balancing the fluxes of photons and nutrients in the synthetic leaf environment. The vascular nutrient medium transport system was also modeled, enabling calculation of nutrient delivery rates as a function of environmental parameters and material properties of the porous membrane. These models were validated using an experimental setup in which the nutrient delivery rate, growth rate, and photosynthetic yield were measured for single synthetic leaves. The synthetic leaf system was shown to be competitive with existing technologies in terms of biomass productivity, while requiring zero energy for nutrient and gas delivery to the microorganisms. Future studies should focus on utilizing the synthetic leaf system for passive harvesting of secreted products in addition to passive nutrient delivery. / text

Στην παρούσα εργασία εξετάζεται η δυναμική συμπεριφορά αμιγούς και απλού συναγωνισμού δύο μικροβιακών πληθυσμών που αναπτύσσονται σε δύο συζευγμένους χημοστάτες. Χρησιμοποιώντας το μοντέλο Andrews για τους ειδικούς ρυθμούς ανάπτυξης και συνθήκες βαθμίδας συγκέντρωσης στην τροφοδοσία, η μελέτη του συστήματος γίνεται με εφαρμογή μεθόδων της θεωρίας διακλαδώσεων. Εξετάζοντας δύο περιπτώσεις τροφοδοσίας, παρουσία μικροοργανισμών και απουσία, κατασκευάστηκαν δύο λειτουργικά διαγράμματα ως προς το βαθμό σύζευξης r και το λόγο των όγκων λ των δύο αντιδραστήρων και βρέθηκε το είδος ευστάθειας των υπαρχουσών καταστάσεων ισορροπίας. Παρουσία μικροοργανισμών στην τροφοδοσία παρατηρήθηκαν περιοχές συνύπαρξης των δύο πληθυσμών σε μόνιμη, περιοδική και οιονεί περιοδική κατάσταση, ενώ υπάρχουν ενδείξεις και για χαοτική συμπεριφορά. Υπό στείρα τροφοδοσία βρέθηκε ότι συνύπαρξη μπορεί να επιτευχθεί μόνο σε μόνιμη και περιοδική κατάσταση σε μία ευρεία περιοχή των παραμέτρων λειτουργίας λ και r. / The dynamic behavior of pure and simple competition of two microbial populations growing in two interconnected bioreactors is investigated. Using Andrews inhibitory model and gradient in feed concentration, the use of bifurcation theory allows an in-depth analysis of the stability change mechanisms occurring in the system, when the operating parameters of the degree of coupling and the volume ratio change. Regions of species coexistence in all steady, periodic and quasi-periodic states are observed, while there is substantial indication of chaotic behavior. Under clean feed conditions coexistence is only possible in steady and periodic states.

Thesis (M.Tech.: Chemical Engineering)-Dept. of Chemical Engineering, Durban University of Technology, 2005 1 v. (various pagings) / In bubble-less aeration oxygen diffuses through the membrane in a molecular form and dissolves in the liquid. Oxygen is fed through the lumen side of silicone rubber tube. On the outer surface of the membrane there is a boundary layer that is created by oxygen. This then gets transported to the bulk liquid by convective transport created by water circulation through the pump. The driving force of the convective transport is due to concentration difference between the dissolved oxygen in water and oxygen saturation concentration in water at a particular temperature and pressure. The design of a membrane aerated bioreactor needs an understanding of the factors that govern oxygen mass transfer. It is necessary to know the effects of operating conditions and design configurations. Although various methods of bubble-less aeration have been reported, there still exists a lack of knowledge on the immersed membrane systems. This study is aiming at contributing to the development of an immersed membrane bioreactor using silicone rubber tubular membrane as means of providing oxygen. The secondary objective was to investigate the influence that the operating conditions and module configuration have on the system behaviour. From the experimental study, the characteristic dissolved oxygen -time curve show that there is a saturation limit equivalent to the equilibrium dissolved oxygen concentration, after which there is no increase in dissolved oxygen with time. At ambient conditions the equilibrium dissolved oxygen is approximately 8 mg/L. This is when water is in contact with air at one atmospheric pressure. At the same conditions the equilibrium dissolved oxygen concentration when water is in contact with pure oxygen is approximately 40 mg/L. This is why all the experiments were conducted from 2mg/L dissolved oxygen concentration in water, to enable enough time to reach equilibrium so as to determine mass transfer coefficient. The most important parameters that were investigated to characterise the reactor were, oxygen supply pressure, crossflow velocity, temperature and module orientation. Observations from the experimental study indicated that when the system is controlled by pressure, crossflow does not have a significant effect on mass transfer. When the system is controlled by the convective transport from the membrane surface to the bulk liquid, pressure does not have a significant effect on mass transfer. All four effects that were investigated in the study are discussed.

This work examines the chemical and physical effects of a material treatment process on the biopolymers PEEK, POM-h, POM-c, PTFE and UHMWPE. The polymers are analyzed physically and chemically using atomic force microscopy, profilometry, scanning electron microscopy, optical microscopy, contact angle measurement, FT infra-red spectroscopy and energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry. PEEK is found to be the most suitable polymer and FT Infra-red spectroscopy an informative analytic tool.