Bioreactor array and methods of combinatorial testing

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for culturing microorganisms are described, including culturing in mixotrophic culture conditions. A bioreactor array with multiple culture vessels with independently controllable inputs is used to culture similar cultures of microorganisms in which at least one parameter differs from other culture vessels in the bioreactor array.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A method for evaluating the feasibility of large scale microalgae culture, comprising:
 a. providing a plurality of microalgae cultures in an array of closed culturing vessels, wherein (1) each vessel of the array comprises (a) a plurality of sensors selected from the group consisting of a pH sensor, a temperature sensor, a light sensor, a dissolved oxygen sensor, a dissolved carbon dioxide sensor, and an optical density sensor and (b) a plurality of controls selected from controls for pH, light, gas levels, media levels, temperature, culture agitation, and culture harvesting; (b) the culturing vessels are linked to one or more shared reservoirs for controllably adding culture media, gas, or both to the vessels; and (c) each culture comprises at least 0.5 grams of microalgae in a volume of at least 500 ml of an aqueous culture medium;   b. independently subjecting each microalgae culture to one or more related test conditions wherein at least a plurality of the cultures is subjected to different degrees of at least one test condition; and   c. evaluating the impact of the test conditions on the cultures to determine the effect of the test conditions on the microalgae and assessing the feasibility of performing large scale commercial microalgae culture under one or more production conditions related to the test conditions from the results of the evaluation.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the method comprises contemporaneously culturing a plurality of test cultures and a plurality of control cultures in the array. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the method comprises contemporaneously culturing a plurality of cultures under the same conditions such that this plurality of cultures serve as repetitions in an experiment. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the method comprises contemporaneously culturing at least three control cultures and at least three test cultures. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the method comprises contemporaneously culturing a plurality of cultures under the same conditions such that this plurality of cultures serve as repetitions in an experiment. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the method comprises contemporaneously testing three or more different conditions in the array by culturing three or more cultures wherein each culture of the three or more cultures is cultured under a different condition. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the method comprises culturing multiple cultures for each of the three or more different conditions being tested in the array, wherein each culture being tested for a condition is cultured under different levels of the condition. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the different conditions comprise culturing the microalgae in the presence of different chemicals. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the method comprises contemporaneously testing five or more different conditions in the array. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the method comprises adding gas, media, or both, to a plurality of the cultures during the culture process from a shared media reservoir, gas reservoir, or both. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the method comprises supplying gas, supplying media, or both, to one or more vessels by passing the gas, media, or both through a lid that encloses the top of the vessel. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the method comprises adding gas, media, or both, to a plurality of the cultures during the culture process from a shared media reservoir, gas reservoir, or both. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the method comprises supplying gas, supplying media, or both, to one or more vessels by passing the gas, media, or both through a lid that encloses the top of the vessel. 
     
     
         33 . A system for testing the feasibility of large scale culture of microalgae under different conditions comprising:
 (a) an array of at least eight substantially identical culturing vessels which are suitable for culturing microalgae, wherein each vessel is capable of containing a culture of at least 500 mL in volume and comprises (i) a plurality of sensors selected from the group consisting of a pH sensor, a temperature sensor, a light sensor, a dissolved oxygen sensor, a dissolved carbon dioxide sensor, and an optical density sensor and (ii) a plurality of controls selected from controls for pH, light, gas levels, media levels, temperature, culture agitation, and culture harvesting;   (b) a shared gas reservoir and delivery system, which is connected to each of the culturing vessels in the array and is capable of independently and controllably adding gas to each of the vessels;   (c) a shared media reservoir and delivery system, which is connected to each of the culturing vessels in the array and is capable of independently and controllably adding media to each of the vessels; and   (d) a programmable logic controller that controls at least a plurality of the controls and receives data from at least a plurality of the sensors in each of the cultures.   
     
     
         34 . The system of  claim 33 , wherein more than one of the culture vessels is light transmissive. 
     
     
         35 . The system of  claim 34 , wherein each of the culture vessels comprises a lid through which a gas supply inlet and a nutrient supply inlet passes.