Method and system for bioreaction

• US 20100316446A1
• Filed: 02/25/2010
• Published: 12/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/04/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Larry Runyon
• Original Assignee: Larry Runyon
• Inventors: Runyon, Larry
• Granted Patent: US 9,163,208 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 405/128.45
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 23/14 Bags
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 23/44 Multiple separable units; Modules
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 23/48 Holding appliances; Racks; Supports holding devices for laboratory apparatus B01L9/00
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 23/58 Reaction vessels connected in series or in parallel combinations of bioreactors with other apparatus, C12M43/00
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 29/10 Perfusion
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 41/14 Incubators; Climatic chambers per se B01L1/00
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 41/48 Automatic or computerized control automatic analysis G01N35/00

Abstract

Novel bioreactor systems, adapted to provide continuous batch incubation of microbes, especially bacteria, are provided. Bioreactor bags are preloaded with inert microbes prior to being shipped to the user. The inert microbes may be substantially dry or in other inert forms, and are stored in soluble containers within the bioreactor bags. Multiple sterile, preloaded, disposable bioreactor bags are used in a self-contained housing. The bags are automatically incubated in the housing and dispensed, preferably into an irrigation system. The system provides serial batch production of useful microbes for a week or more, without further supervision or intervention. Methods of manufacture, methods of use, methods of sales, and methods of farming are also provided.

Claims

1. A bioreactor system, comprising:

at least one flexible container containing therein a first soluble container containing therein at least one inert microbe, said at least one flexible container adapted to contain at least one fluid therein;

at least one fluid input in fluid communication with said at least one flexible container and adapted to input fluid into said at least one flexible container to convert said at least one inert microbe into at least one live microbe;

at least one fluid output in fluid communication with said at least one flexible container and adapted to receive output fluid from said at least one flexible container and dispense said output fluid; and

each said flexible container held by a corresponding rigid stackable container such that each said at least one flexible container is not capable of motion with respect to said bioreactor system.

2. The bioreactor system as in claim 1, wherein said first soluble container comprises a water soluble container formed of polyvinyl alcohol plastic.

3. The bioreactor system as in claim 1, further comprising said at least one flexible container further containing therein a second soluble container containing therein at least one substantially dry inert nutrient and a third soluble container containing therein at least one substantially dry inert enzyme,

wherein said input fluid is adapted to convert said at least one substantially dry inert nutrient into at least one available nutrient, convert said at least one substantially dry inert enzyme into at least one activated enzyme and urge a bioreaction between said at least one live microbe, said at least one available nutrient and said at least one activated enzyme.

4. The bioreactor system as in claim 1, wherein said at least one flexible container comprises a plurality of said flexible containers and further comprising a controller adapted to sequentially control a time difference between a first time at which said at least one fluid input inputs fluid into said at least one flexible container and a second time at which said output fluid is received at said at least one fluid output, for each said flexible container, wherein said controller further comprises a computer adapted to receive input data from at least one sensor and to provide a bioremediation prescription in response to said input data, said bioremediation prescription including a selection of said at least one inert microbe, and wherein said at least one sensor comprises at least one of a weather sensor, a soil moisture sensor, a soil temperature sensor, an air temperature sensor, a soil pH sensor, a soil nitrogen content sensor, a soil oxygen content sensor and a soil intensity sensor.

5. The bioreactor system as in claim 1, further comprising an enclosure enclosing said at least one flexible container and a temperature regulator that controls temperature in said enclosure.

6. The bioreactor system as in claim 1, wherein said at least one flexible container comprises a plurality of said flexible containers and said corresponding plurality of rigid stackable containers are stacked over one another.

7. The bioreactor system as in claim 1, wherein said at least one inert microbe comprises a substantially wet microbe.

8. The bioreactor system as in claim 1, wherein said at least one inert microbe comprises a substantially dry microbe.

9. The bioreactor system as in claim 8, further comprising:

at least one gas input that provides fluid communication with said at least one flexible container and is adapted to input at least one gas into said at least one flexible container and create bubbles in said at least one fluid;

at least one gas output that provides fluid communication with said at least one flexible container and is adapted to output said at least one gas from said at least one flexible container;

an enclosure including therein at least said at least one flexible container; and

a temperature regulator that regulates temperature within said enclosure.

10. The bioreactor system as in claim 1, further comprising at least one gas input that inputs at least one gas into said at least one flexible container and at least one gas output that outputs said at least one gas from said at least one flexible container, wherein said at least one gas input creates bubbles in said at least one fluid.

11. A method for causing bioreaction comprising:

providing at least one flexible container containing therein a first soluble container containing therein at least one inert microbe;

delivering input fluid via at least one fluid input into said at least one flexible container thereby dissolving said first soluble container and urging said at least one inert microbe to be converted into at least one live microbe;

harvesting by dispensing an output fluid comprising at least said at least one live microbe via at least one fluid output.

12. The method as in claim 11, wherein said inert microbe comprises a substantially dry inert microbe.

13. The method as in claim 11, wherein said first soluble container is a first water soluble container.

14. The method as in claim 11, further comprising:

providing at least one substantially dry inert nutrient and at least one substantially dry inert enzyme within said at least one flexible container; and

wherein said delivering further urges said at least one substantially dry inert nutrient to be converted into at least one available nutrient and said at least one substantially dry inert enzyme to be converted into at least one activated enzyme and urges a bioreaction between said at least one live microbe, said at least one available nutrient and said at least one activated enzyme, and

wherein said output fluid includes products of said bioreaction.

15. The method as in claim 14, wherein:

said first soluble container is a first water soluble container;

said providing at least one substantially dry inert nutrient and at least one substantially dry inert enzyme comprises said at least one flexible container including therein a second water soluble container containing therein said at least one substantially dry inert nutrient and a third water soluble container containing therein said at least one substantially dry inert enzyme; and

said delivering further comprises dissolving said second water soluble container and said third water soluble container.

16. The method as in claim 11, further comprising delivering input gas via a gas input port, to said at least one flexible container, and delivering output gas via a gas output port, from said at least one flexible container.

17. The method according to claim 11, wherein said providing at least one flexible container comprises providing a plurality of said flexible containers and further comprising a controller that urges at least one further bioreaction to occur in another of said at least one flexible containers, to generate a further useful number of live, active microbes, during said harvesting.

18. A method for causing bioreaction comprising:

selecting at least one inert microbe and at least one dry, inert nutrient adapted to support life of said at least one inert microbe;

providing at least one previously sterilized, flexible bioreactor chamber that contains therein said at least one inert microbe and said at least one dry, inert nutrient;

installing said at least one bioreactor chamber in at least one bioreactor;

adding fluid to said at least one bioreactor chamber;

allowing at least one bioreaction to occur in said at least one bioreactor chamber to generate a useful number of live, active microbes; and

harvesting said useful number of live, active microbes.

19. The method as in claim 18, wherein said inert microbe comprises a wet microbe.

20. The method as in claim 18, wherein said inert microbe comprises a dry microbe.

21. The method according to claim 18, wherein said selecting further comprises selecting at least one dry, inert enzyme and wherein said allowing includes said at least one dry, inert enzyme participating in said at least one bioreaction.

22. The method according to claim 18, wherein said providing includes said at least one inert microbe disposed in a water soluble container and said and at least one dry, inert nutrient disposed in a further water soluble container and said adding fluid causes said water soluble container and said further water soluble container to dissolve.

23. The method according to claim 18, wherein said allowing at least one bioreaction to occur comprises a controller controlling a time period during which said at least one bioreaction is allowed to occur, said controller remotely controls said adding fluid, said controlling a time period and said harvesting and said controller further allows at least one further bioreaction to occur in another of said at least one bioreactor chamber to generate a further useful number of live, active microbes, during said harvesting.

24. The method according to claim 18, further comprising:

analyzing at least one soil for at least one user;

developing at least one soil bioremediation prescription for said at least one soil;

determining said at least one inert microbe and said at least one dry, inert nutrient based on said bioremediation prescription; and

applying said useful number of live, active microbes to said at least one soil or to a crop of said at least one soil.

25. The method according to claim 24, wherein said analyzing includes analyzing at least a chemical history of said at least one soil and further comprising reanalyzing said at least one soil to determine effects of said applying.

26. The method as in claim 24, wherein said analyzing, developing and determining are carried out remotely via a computer and further comprising said computer receiving signals from at least one of a weather sensor, a soil moisture sensor, a soil temperature sensor, an air temperature sensor, a soil pH sensor, a soil nitrogen content sensor, a soil oxygen content sensor and a soil intensity sensor.