Integrated components from Festo Use the QR code to access our product selection for the automation of bioreactors. The heart of the BionicCellFactory is a 45-metre-long tube system from Algoliner with a capacity of 80 litres. In this transparent, illuminated photo series, the algae cells perform their photosynthesis under optimal growth conditions. Sensors continuously measure conductivity, pH, oxygen and CO2 concentration as well as the temperature. Depending on the algae’s needs, the system supplies nutrients such as potassium, phosphorus and nitrogen. A heat exchanger ensures the right temperature. The mass-flow control and innovative piezo valve technology enable precise dosing of the air. Up to 20 litres per minute are supplied via a ventilation element. The resulting fine air bubbles ensure the optimum exchange of CO2 and O2 between algae and the environment. Module 3: Cultivation: controlled growth through automation Five transformation cubes with individual tasks create the ideal conditions for refining the algae with enzymes. They are biological catalysts that are fed in a targeted manner. This way, they support the gradual transformation, which requires no heavy metals at all. In order to extract individual components from the harvested algae, molecular scissors cut open the cell walls and thus reach the ingredients: starch, proteins, dyes and the algae oil we want. This requires hardly any energy, as the environmentally friendly process takes place in mild – automatically controlled – ambient conditions of 40 degrees Celsius and a pH of five. The algae oil obtained can now be used as a food supplement and for the manufacture of cosmetics or further processed into energy sources or bioplastics. The algae residues can be used as feed or fertiliser. The Harvest module is the interface between production and enzymatic transformation of biologically grown material. A centrifuge ensures that the biomass is harvested continuously: at a speed of 10,000 revolutions per minute, the algae cells are separated from their aqueous environment and pushed to the edge; the water is fed back into the process. The algae are then fed to the next module via a pump for further processing. The timing and quantity of the harvest are regulated in such a way that the vitality of the algae remains at the optimum level and the right amount of biomass is available for transformation in the next step. Module 4: Harvest: harvesting the algae using a centrifuge Module 5: Enzymatic transformation: extraction and further processing of cell components
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