FMT-150 Bench-top Cultivator for the Cultivation of Microorganisms

► Cultivation of photoautotrophic and heterotrophic microorganisms
► Flat cultivation vessel with a short light path for an optimal illumination
► Standard bi-color LED panel, optionally up to 4 illumination colors
► Highly precise control of cultivation conditions (illumination, temperature, aeration, etc.)
► Optical density (OD 680, OD 720) and Chlorophyll-a fluorescence monitoring
► Variable cultivation strategies (batch, pH-stat, turbidostatic, anaerobic, etc.)
► Compact design, easy handling
► Online software control

► Culture vessel

Flat, rectangular glass culture vessel. The short light path ensures optimal irradiance (24mm (FMT 150/400), 61mm (FMT 150/1000 and FMT 150/3000).
Different sizes: 400 ml, 1 l, 3 l.
Stainless steel bottom and lid. 3 large ports for sensors, 4 small Luer connectors for tubes (Ø 6/3 mm) (FMT 150/400 and FMT 150/1000); 4 large sensor ports, 8 small Luer connectors for tubes (Ø 6/3 mm) (FMT 150/3000)
Identical 24mm light path regardless of vessel thickness due to built-in optical prism that reduces the light path in larger vessels.
Integrated aeration U-tube made of stainless steel with aeration holes (Ø 0.7 mm) + silicone connection.
Probe Caps - Stainless steel caps to close the unused probe opening in the cap of the photobioreactor cuvette.
Humidifier to moisten the bubbling air to avoid increased evaporation of the culture medium.
Improved bowl made of nickel-plated brass covered with a ceramic coating that improves heat convection (optional).
Pipetting insert to top connector: an additional inlet port placed in the sensor port (optional).
Autoclavable design.

Culture vessels - 400 ml and 3 l Culture vessels - 400 ml and 3 l Optical prism Optical prism Pipetting insert Pipetting insert

► Thermoregulation

Temperature range (ambient temperature around 23 ° C): 5-75 ° C (FMT 150/400); 10 - 75 ° C (FMT 150/1000 and FMT 150/3000).
200 W Peltier element (FMT 150/400 and FMT 150/1000); 400 W Peltier (FMT 150/3000).

► Illumination

Led technology.
Two-color light panel with separately controllable channels.
Cold white-red or red-blue. Other color combination on request.
Total illumination intensity up to 1,500 µmol. m-2. s-1 (optionally up to 3,000 µmol. m-2. s-1 with Light Upgrade).
Light path: 24 mm (FMT 150/400), 61 mm (FMT 150/1000 and FMT 150/3000).
Illumination can be independently adjusted for light color in intensity, timing, and modulation.
Constant light conditions or the alternation of several cycles of light and dark.
The duration of individual cycles: from seconds to days.
The mode of the light cycles: constant, linear increase or decrease, sinusoid mode for simple imitation of daytime rhythms. In addition, the java script is embedded in the photobioreactor control software (optional advanced version) for the creation of advanced light protocols (eg automatic adjustment of light intensity based on actual biomass concentration).
The additional external light panel (optional) to increase the intensity of the illumination and the homogeneity in the water column. In addition, the panel can provide two other colors of grow light that can be controlled separately. The external light panel is offered in three versions: single color (E-1), single color with additional IR LEDs (E-2) and bi-color (E-3). NOTE: The external light panel cannot be used simultaneously with the magnetic stirrer.
Additional protective glasses: Radiation safety glasses that protect against excessive LED radiation, equipped with side shields and protective filters. One pair of glasses is provided with the device free of charge.

NOTE: Wavelengths in nanometers show illustrative peak values, but spectral coverage is broader for each color. The maximum peak values ​​may differ slightly.

► Aeration system

The aeration system provides mixing and also supply of air / CO2 to the crops.
Integrated stainless steel U-tube with ventilation holes (Ø 0.7 mm) + silicone connection.
The air source: aeration pump supplemented with a valve, which stops bubbling before DO and fluorescence measurements to avoid any bubble interference with the measurements and allow more accurate readings.
Optionally, the FMT 150 photobioreactor can be connected to the GMS 150 gas mixing system that provides a precise concentration and flow rate of the required gases.

► Mix

Mix by aeration (see Aeration System for more information) or by a magnetic stirrer (optional).
Two versions of the magnetic stirrer are offered (V-200 for FMT 150/400, FMT 150/1000 and V-230 for FMT 150/3000).
Magnetic stirrer with 35mm long (Ø 6mm) Teflon coated magnetic bar is designed for FMT 150/400 and FMT 150/1000, while for FMT 150/3000 a 60mm long magnetic bar is used ( Ø 10 mm). The magnetic bar is placed in a vertical plane of the front glass panel inside the Photobioreactor and its rotation speed is adjustable from approximately 60 to 600 rpm (10-100%).
The use of a magnetic stirrer is essential when you cannot apliquefy gas stirring, e.g. Eg when photosynthetic oxygen evolution or respiratory oxygen uptake is measured or when the culture is grown anaerobically without gas supply. It can also be used to reduce cell sedimentation and agglutination, in addition to gas sparging. It is strongly recommended with the use of O2 and CO2 probes based on Clark type electrodes.

NOTE: The magnetic stirrer cannot be used simultaneously with the external light panel and the PWM pump.

► Fluorescence monitoring

Integrated turbidimeter (OD 680 and 720 nm) with dual modulation fluorometer (blue and red excitation lights) for automatic monitoring.
The optical path of the OD and Chl-a fluorescence measurement: 24 mm.
The DO measurement is corrected for temperature.
OD 720 measures light scattering in particles and can serve as an indicator of biomass growth, while OD 680 is related to chlorophyll uptake and can be used to estimate chlorophyll concentration.
Chl-a fluorescence measurement can be used for a rough assessment of the physiological state of biomass. Determined parameters: F0, FT, FM, F'M, (F'M - FT / F'M).
The photobioreactor control software (optional) allows remote online viewing of recorded data in real time. In addition, the software allows you to fit the OD data with the various regression functions to facilitate the evaluation of the real growth rate.

► Sensors

The pH / temperature module includes the electronic module, the combined membrane sensor and the cable. InPro 3253SG / 120 / PT1000 analog pH sensor produced by Mettler Toledo.
O2 module (optional) to measure dissolved O2 concentration (includes electronic module, membrane sensor and cable). InPro 6800/12/120 analog O2 sensor produced by Mettler Toledo.
CO2 module (optional) to determine the concentration of carbon dioxide dissolved in the medium (includes electronic module, membrane sensor and cables). InPro 5000/12/120 analog CO2 sensor produced by Mettler Toledo.

Membrane sensors for pH, O ₂ and CO ₂ Membrane sensors for pH, O2 and CO2 Sensors in PBR Sensors in PBR

► Cultivation strategies

The highly flexible use of the PBS system is enabled by connecting and controlling several additional pumps. This design allows any of the measured parameters (DO, pH, dCO2 or dO2, etc.) to be used as a control regulator to operate the system in automatic mode.
Up to 8 PP 600 peristaltic pumps (optional) and two PWM diaphragm pumps (optional) can be connected to the FMT 150 photobioreactor for the supply of different nutrients, media, catalysts, inhibitors, toxic, base or acid, organisms, etc.
Batch culture
Semi-continuous culture
Turbidostatic culture
Chemostatic culture
Anaerobic culture
Turbidostat module (optional): maintains a pre-established cell concentration (determined through OD 680 or OD 720) in a constant volume of biomass. The preset cell concentration can be constant, fluctuate in various ranges, or change dynamically. The module includes a PP 600 peristaltic pump and supporting control software.
Chemostat module (optional): In chemostat mode, the pH value of the culture medium is continuously adjusted by adding acid or base to the culture vessel to keep the pH level at a defined level. The module includes two PP 600 peristaltic pumps and supporting control software. One pump serves to add acid, the second pump adds base.
PH-Stat / Turbidostat module (optional): The module allows turbidostatic cultivation or cultivation in pH-stat mode regulated by a controlled addition of gaseous CO2. The module includes a PP 600 peristaltic pump with a gas valve and supporting control software. The CO2 container is not included.
PH-Stat culture through GMS 150 gas mixing system (optional): photobioreactor control software for GMS 150 (advanced, optional) allows creating a Java script that will maintain the pH of the culture medium at a defined level by means of a controlled addition of CO2 gas.
Anaerobic culture using a gas-tight lid and N2 bubbling.
The peristaltic pump 600 is used for the precise and homogeneous pumping of a variety of fluids. Liquid delivery occurs with minimal shear, so potential damage to biological material is marginal. The flow rate of the pump is between 0.2 and 50 ml / min. The speed of rotation and therefore pumping can be controlled manually via the pump display or via a PC via the USB interface.
PWM pump (for gas or liquid depending on the membrane used): The PWM pump can be used to pump liquid or gas into the culture tank; It can regular within a range of 1 to 100% of total production. The pump has several uses: (1) controlled air bubbling in the culture vessel; (2) Single gas entry into the container; (3) When connected to the inlet and outlet of the container, it can be used for suspension mixing (bubbling) under anaerobic conditions. NOTE: The PWM pump cannot be used simultaneously with the Magnetic Stirrer.

PP 600PP 600PP 600 - detail PP 600 - detail

► Photobioreactor control software

The entire FMT 150 Photobioreactor system and all its culture and monitoring functions and accessories can be controlled through the photobioreactor control software. The control software provides an intuitive and dynamic interface for online monitoring and visualization of all measured data, as well as the creation of user-defined protocols. For more details, see our website on photobioreactor control software.

Spare Parts and Accessories: