US4001090A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Process and apparatus for the culture of microorganisms
Assignee: Nestec SA
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Filing: 1975-05-27
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Granted: 1977-01-04
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Expires: 1995-05-27
Abstract
Abstract A process for the aerobic culture of a microorganism in a fluid nutrient medium therefor containing at least one source of carbon assimilable by the microorganism, in which a culture broth consisting of the fluid nutrient medium and of a cellular mass of the microorganism is circulated in a closed loop between an upper level and a lower level, in which the broth is subjected, in a fermentation zone extending along an ascending side of the loop from the lower level, to the combined action of the frictional forces of bubbles of an oxygen containing gas or of oxygen released under pressure into the broth, a mechanical force applying an upward thrust and at least one couple of mechanical forces acting in a horizontal plane.
Inventors
- 👤 Vladimir Kalina
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 15:35
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01F; B01F23/00; B01F23/20; B01F23/23; B01F23/233; C; C12; C12M; C12M27/00; C12M27/02; C12M29/00; C12M29/18; B01F23/2336; B01F23/23362; B01F27/00; B01F27/05; B01F27/11; B01F27/19; B01F27/191; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S435/00; Y10S435/813; Y10S435/818
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
200 words
A process for the aerobic culture of a microorganism in a fluid nutrient medium therefor containing at least one source of carbon assimilable by the microorganism, comprising circulating a culture broth consisting of the fluid nutrient medium and a cellular mass of the microorganism in a closed loop flow course having ascending and descending sides extending between upper and lower levels of said closed loop, there being a fermentation zone extending upwardly along the ascending side of the loop from said loop lower level and having a top terminating below said loop upper level, subjecting said culture broth while flowing through said fermentation zone to the combined action of the frictional forces of bubbles of an oxygen containing gas or of oxygen released under pressure into the broth, a mechanical force applying an upward thrust to the culture broth, and at least one couple of mechanical forces acting on the broth in a horizontal plane, and imposing a back pressure on the culture broth at the top of the fermentation zone whereby the pressure prevailing at the top of the fermentation zone is maintained at a higher value than the pressure prevailing at the said upper level of said loop.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
200 words
A process for the aerobic culture of a microorganism in a fluid nutrient medium therefor containing at least one source of carbon assimilable by the microorganism, comprising circulating a culture broth consisting of the fluid nutrient medium and a cellular mass of the microorganism in a closed loop flow course having ascending and descending sides extending between upper and lower levels of said closed loop, there being a fermentation zone extending upwardly along the ascending side of the loop from said loop lower level and having a top terminating below said loop upper level, subjecting said culture broth while flowing through said fermentation zone to the combined action of the frictional forces of bubbles of an oxygen containing gas or of oxygen released under pressure into the broth, a mechanical force applying an upward thrust to the culture broth, and at least one couple of mechanical forces acting on the broth in a horizontal plane, and imposing a back pressure on the culture broth at the top of the fermentation zone whereby the pressure prevailing at the top of the fermentation zone is maintained at a higher value than the pressure prevailing at the said upper level of said loop.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
A process as claimed in claim 1, in which the broth is subjected to a cooling operation outside the fermentation zone to remove heat therefrom.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
43 words
A process as claimed in claim 2, in which the broth while flowing in the descending side of said loop is at least partly degassed, subjected to said cooling operation and at least part of the cellular mass present therein is recovered therefrom.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
A process as claimed in claim 3, in which after recovery of the cellular mass the broth is enriched by introducing nutrient substances thereto, said enriched broth being recycled to the fermentation zone.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
175 words
Apparatus for the aerobic culture of microorganisms, comprising means defining a closed loop flow course wherein a culture broth can be circulated, said closed loop having ascending and descending sides thereof and communicating with each other at respective upper and lower loop levels, means defining a fermentation chamber in the ascending side of said loop, said fermentation chamber extending upwardly a distance from said loop lower level and having a top disposed a distance below said loop upper level, means for injecting gas under pressure into said fermentation chamber at the lower end thereof, means for mechanically propelling culture broth upwardly from the lower end of said fermentation chamber, means for applying at least one couple of mechanical forces acting in a horizontal plane on broth in said fermentation chamber, and means for imposing a back pressure on the culture broth at the top of said fermentation chamber whereby the pressure at the top of said fermentation chamber is maintained at a higher value than the pressure prevailing at the upper level of said loop.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
175 words
Apparatus for the aerobic culture of microorganisms, comprising means defining a closed loop flow course wherein a culture broth can be circulated, said closed loop having ascending and descending sides thereof and communicating with each other at respective upper and lower loop levels, means defining a fermentation chamber in the ascending side of said loop, said fermentation chamber extending upwardly a distance from said loop lower level and having a top disposed a distance below said loop upper level, means for injecting gas under pressure into said fermentation chamber at the lower end thereof, means for mechanically propelling culture broth upwardly from the lower end of said fermentation chamber, means for applying at least one couple of mechanical forces acting in a horizontal plane on broth in said fermentation chamber, and means for imposing a back pressure on the culture broth at the top of said fermentation chamber whereby the pressure at the top of said fermentation chamber is maintained at a higher value than the pressure prevailing at the upper level of said loop.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 5 further comprising means for degassing the broth, and means for cooling the broth, said two last-mentioned means being disposed in the descending side of said loop.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 6, in which the cooling means is a heat exchanger arranged between a compressor and a condenser for the cooling fluid.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
43 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 5 further comprising means for recovering cellular material disposed in the descending side of said loop, and a feed pipe connected to the lower part of the fermentation zone for adding nutrient substances to the culture broth.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 5 in which the mechanical propulsion means comprises at least one rotary impellar.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
32 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 5 in which the mechanical mixing means comprises one or more sets of rotatable blade means mounted on a shaft at vertical intervals from one another.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
24 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 10, in which at least one of the sets of mixing blade means is arranged as an impeller.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
25 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 5 in which a restricted passage embodying a back-pressure valve is provided at the top of the fermentation zone.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
20 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 12, in which the restricted passage is below the upper level of said loop.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-01-04 | 1980-07-05 | 1981-01-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-01-04 | 1984-07-05 | 1985-01-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-01-04 | 1988-07-05 | 1989-01-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |