Fermenters / bioreactors

Bioreactors are specially designed vessels or systems to sustain biologically active processes. Sometimes, bioreactors can be simple vessels in which a reaction is carried out with the help of microorganisms. Often, bioreactors have temperature and atmosphere control to adjust gas concentration or maintain aerobic or anaerobic conditions. One example of a bioreactor is a fermenter to extract energy from carbohydrates (more) in an anaerobic environment. Different sizes are available, from small bioreactors of just milliliters to larger models that can harvest liters, to industrial-sized bioreactors that contain thousands of liters of liquids. In microbiology and cell culturing, bioreactors may be used to grow microbes or create special tissues.