US 11,987,782 B2
Biofilm bioreactor
Sarah Glaven, Washington, DC (US); Elizabeth Onderko, Alexandria, VA (US); Andrew Maygar, Arlington, VA (US); and Matthew Yates, Centreville, MA (US)
Assigned to The Government of the United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the Navy, Arlington, VA (US)
Filed by The Government of the United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the Navy, Arlington, VA (US)
Filed on Feb. 18, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/178,488.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/978,428, filed on Feb. 19, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2021/0253990 A1, Aug. 19, 2021
Int. Cl. C12M 1/00 (2006.01); C12M 1/04 (2006.01); C12M 1/12 (2006.01); C12M 1/34 (2006.01); C12M 3/00 (2006.01); C12P 7/04 (2006.01)
CPC C12M 23/44 (2013.01) [C12M 21/12 (2013.01); C12M 23/24 (2013.01); C12M 23/58 (2013.01); C12M 25/10 (2013.01); C12M 29/16 (2013.01); C12M 41/28 (2013.01); C12P 7/04 (2013.01)] 15 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A bioreactor system comprising:
a column comprising a substrate coated with a biofilm comprising hydrocarbonoclastic and/or oleaginous organisms;
a first reservoir operably connected to deliver to the column a first liquid comprising a feedstock;
a second reservoir operably connected to deliver a second liquid to the column; and
a phase separator operably connected to receive both liquids from the column,
wherein the biofilm has a thickness of no greater than 150 μm and is effective to convert the feedstock into a desired product, and
wherein the phase separator is effective to separate the product from one or both of the liquids.