Curtis, W. R.; Bacani, F.T.; Hsiao, T.Y.; Carvalho, E.B.; Srubar, C.M.
Development and application of a low capital investment bioreactor
ACS National Meeting, Anaheim, CA, March 24, 1999.

Abstract (Paper 157)::
The feasibility of using a plastic lined vessel as a low cost bioreactor has been demonstrated. An order of magnitude reduction in tank cost could be achieved by eliminating the need for an autoclavable vessel by utilizing gas-phase sterilization with ethylene oxide (EtOX). Experimental measurements and modeling of EtOX demonstrate that aeration times of only a few hours are needed for sterilant desorption. The reactor has been demonstrated utilizing plant tissue culture as a model system. Growth rates and yields comparable to shake flask and an "optimized" stirred tank vessel were observed, and greather than 40% biomass volume was achieved at a working volume of 100 L. Application to other culture systems is currently being tested as an alternative to the typical bioprocessing paradyme of reduced production costs via increased volumetric productivity.