Kondratyuk R.V., Trivailo M.S., shapharenko N.V.

National Technical University of Ukraine «KPI»

THE LABORATORY fermenter for cultivation of microorganisms

The utility model relates to biotechnology, namely, the laboratory fermenters and can be used in the laboratory for cultivation of microorganisms.

The known laboratory fermenter (LF), which has made of transparent material in the form of a hollow oval ring body with transverse crosspiece and nipple for feeding sterile and diverting the exhaust air (see А.с. СССР № 1784043, С12М1/04, 1992).

The disadvantage of this LF is relatively large dimensions and material.

It Is also known a LF, which has made of transparent material cup-like cylindrical body with a lid, nipple for feeding sterile and diverting the exhaust air, photometric device for measuring fluid parameters and magnetic mixer (see А.с. СССР № 1731805, С12М1/34, 1992).

This LB is the closest to a useful model for technical sense and reached effect and is accepted as the prototype.

The disadvantage of known LF is that it does not provide active mixing of the near-bottom and top layers of fluid between themselves that prevents active mass transfer and is its major drawback.

The absence of active mixing slows the growth of microorganisms due to uneven distribution of nutrients in the volume of fluid, which serves to reduce productivity.

The basis of the utility model is a task to improve LF, in which, by introducing an additional element in the design, the process of mixing of fluid intensifies, that accelerates the growth of microorganisms and leads to increased productivity.

A task is solved by that in LF which contains made of transparent material cup-like cylindrical body with a lid and nipple for feeding sterile and diverting the exhaust air, according to a utility model the new is that body is equipped with installed adjacent to its inner cylindrical surface vertical wall, which is distantly (with gaps) located relatively to the bottom of the body and lid.

These distinctive features ensure the circulation of fluid in her volume, that serves as intensifying mass transfer and productivity growth.

In fig. 1 it is schematically shown an announced LF, general view, in fig. 2 – section A-A in fig. 1.

LF contains cup-like cylindrical body 1 with a lid 2 and located in the lid nipples 3, 4 for feeding sterile and diverting the exhaust air. The body 1 is equipped with vertical wall 5 which is installed adjacent to its inner cylindrical with diameter D surface (fig. 2) and is distantly located relatively to the bottom 6 of the body and lid 2, forming with them gaps Н₁, Н_2. To enable visual observation, radiation sterilization and optical measurements of photometric parameters of fluid body 1 is made of transparent material such as glass.

The LF works in next way.

First, presterilized LF fill out with nutrient liquid 7 to a level that exceeds the level of wall 5 for a size H ₃ and put the necessary culture of microorganisms (working fluid). Then through the nozzle 3 with opening of its faucet 12 in the near-bottom part of body 1serve sterilized air. The air in the form of numerous bubbles 8 passes through the adjacent to walls 5 from its one side layer 9 forms of working fluid and forms gas liquid phase with it, which is easier that the fluid located in a layer 10 on the other side of the wall. Different density (specific weight) of fluid on opposite sides of wall 5, i.e. in the layers 9, 10, provoke its circulation through the gaps Н₁, Н₂ about a closed path 11 around plates. The circulation of fluid goes as long as the air comes in part 9 of the fluid and leads to intensive mixing in its entire volume. Exhaust air through the pipe 4 enters the environment.

Since the wall 5 provides circulation of fluid along its height, that is not present in the prototype, the intensity of mass transfer in fermenter increases, and it accelerates the growth of microorganisms and provides a better productivity. Moreover, unlike the prototype, the construction of LF becomes simplier, because the mixing of fluid does not require use of additional devices - mixers.