Patent ID: 6133019
Filing Date: 2000-10-17
Classification: C12M,Y10S

Abstract:
An apparatus for containing a biocatalyst at a desired location within a liquid flow path, said apparatus for use within a gravitational field and comprising:A) a rotable assembly defining1) a shaft;2) a rotor body, attached to said shaft, defining one or more bioreactor chambers disposed within said rotor body and spaced radially apart from said shaft, each of said bioreactor chambers including a liquid inlet port and a liquid outlet port and configured to allow for the flow of liquid from said inlet port to said outlet port;3) one or more liquid input lines dimensioned for liquid communication with said one or more bioreactor chambers; and4) one or more liquid output lines dimensioned for liquid communication with said one or more bioreactor chambers;B) means for providing a flow of liquid not including a gaseous phase and at hydraulic pressures greater than atmospheric from one or more inlet ports of one or more of said chambers, through said one or more of said chambers and out of one or more outlet ports of said one or more of said chambers, such that a liquid flow force is imparted upon said biocatalyst inside one or more of said chambers by said liquid flow;C) means for supporting said rotor body for rotation about a rotational axis substantially fixed relative to said gravitational field; andD) means for rotating said rotor body about said rotational axis to create a centrifugal field acting upon one or more of said chambers tending to oppose said liquid flow force;such that during the rotation of said rotor body about said rotational axis and during the flow of said liquid, the gravitational force contributes to the resultant vector summation of all forces acting on said biocatalyst, and said gravitational, liquid, and centrifugal forces substantially immobilize said biocatalyst at a position in said rotor body.