Patent ID: 6905872
Filing Date: 2005-06-14
Classification: C12M

Abstract:
1. An on-line respirometer for conducting a test of the activation level of a biological population, comprising: a slurry sample containing a biological population; a single, predetermined volume of reactant gas; a reaction vessel having an upper end, a lower end, and an inner chamber; a slurry inlet operatively connected to said reaction vessel to selectively deliver said slurry sample to said inner chamber; a gas inlet operatively connected to said reaction vessel to selectively introduce a gas, comprising said single predetermined volume of reactant gas, to said inner chamber; an agitator disposed at least partially within said inner chamber for selectively mixing the slurry sample; an overflow drain operatively connected to said reaction vessel intermediate the upper and lower ends thereof; said overflow drain being positioned to define an operational volume of headspace, an operational volume of said slurry sample and said single predetermined volume of reactant gas to provide accurately repeatable tests of the activation level of biological populations; and sensor means for determining the amount of reactant gas within said inner chamber.