How to compare the cost and real value of a laboratory fermentor-bioreactor?

This guide should help colleagues to judge better what they get for their money when buying a laboratory fermentor. Some producers try to lower the initial selling price by supplying equipment and components with minimal value. Unaware clients decide to buy lower priced instruments without consideration of the much lower value obtained, future costs and lower efficiency of such material which inevitably will decrease the productivity of their work for many years. Today, the cost of wages, of laboratory space and infrastructure are orders of magnitude larger than the acquisition costs of a laboratory fermenter or bioreactor. This certainly justifies the truth, that only the best is good enough.

Innovation in application

A major effort has been invested in making applications of this bioreactor more efficient.

This goal has been achieved in several steps

Firstly, a replacement of the traditional rotation movement by an oscillating up and down movement of stirring discs driven by an electromagnet yields several important advantages. A soft, whole volume movement of the medium results in optimal gas distribution throughout the medium and is also advantageous for cell growth. No vortex is formed and the elimination of baffles simplifies the construction of the bioreactor. A single silicone membrane efficiently replaces traditional seals and assures perfect sterility. In the case of extremely sensitive cells gas distribution tubing can be wound on aspiral fixed to the axis. The up and down movement facilitates the gas transfer and simultaneously provides a gentle movement of the medium.

Secondly, a new heat radiation system has also been introduced. A heating spiral in a gilded parabolic reflector has been placed under the bottom of the vessel. The IR rays efficiently heat up the culture without overheating it at any volume of medium. Several innovations allow the construction of high quality bioreactors at lower cost.

Laboratory fermenter and bioreactor MINIFOR: The solitary team player in parallel processes

Why is MINIFOR perfectly suited for your parallel processes?

• Each unit stays independent

“The MINIFOR fermenter-bioreactor is not only a solitary worker. You can also let it work in a team, in parallel cultures, without loss of independence in parameter regulation.”

Each LAMBDA MINIFOR unit is equipped with a control panel and display and shows at a single glance the set values and actual values as well as the high and low-alarms of each parameter. All parameters are regulated locally inside each fermenter unit.

This allows fast and precise parameter regulation and never having to worry about leaving a vessel unattended. A further advantage is that in case there are problems with one unit, the other units will still keep running. This is not the case when problems occur in a tower-controlled system.

• I’d like to compare the data of the different runs. What about data saving, data comparison and remote control?

LAMBDA INTEGRATOR replaces the need for optical density (OD) measurements

Optical density (OD) of the culture is measured to estimate the growth and metabolic activity of the cells.

Optical density is a logarithmic function and increasing the number of light absorption unit by one means that the intensity of light passing through the sample has diminished 10 times! Needless to say that at an optical density of merely 4, the light intensity has decreased by a factor of 10,000. It is a demanding task for electronics to measure such a low signal with high precision. And what about OD 20 or 100? Even though many devices for the measurement of optical density of culture broths have been presented, none are really satisfactory.

The first and foremost problem is that OD measurement also measures dead cells. If many dead cells are present in the culture the resulting metabolic activity will be wrong.

Also small air bubbles are measured and counted as living cells! The number of microscopic air bubbles, especially in dense cultures, may be quite high.

No need to say that any precipitation or coloration formed during the culture will distort the estimation of metabolic activity of the measured culture.

MINIFOR and its use at universities and high schools

Why is the LAMBDA MINIFOR laboratory fermenter and bench-top bioreactor so attractive to universities and high schools? It’s not only because of its functionality and accuracy…

1. The modular concept

“In addition to the standard 1L vessel we can also supply 0.3L (with a minimal working volume of 35ml), 0.4L, 3L and 7L reactor vessels. The vessels can be replaced easily and at low cost. What else can we do for you?”

This is only one example of the modularity of the fermenter system. Each MINIFOR unit has its own measurement and control electronics for all parameters (pH, pO₂, temperature, agitation, aeration rate and one additional selectable parameter). You can decide which parameters and accessories are needed for your work. This allows low acquisition costs.

“Your MINIFOR adapts to your project goals – not vice versa!”

If your project changes you can add additional modules at any time (other vessel sizes, pumps, integrators, mass flow gas controllers, software…).

Is your new project less complex? Then use the surplus modules as autonomous devices in your lab. (Peristaltic pumps, mass flow gas flow controllers …)

1. Safe and easy use during practical lessons