WP4 - Reactor concepts

A tailored compartmentalised photobioreactor was designed using division of labour at phenotype and spatial levels. Unlike prior small-scale approaches, this is among the first reactor-level implementations. Validated with ceramic membranes for controlled metabolite diffusion, it enables co-cultivation of heterotrophic and autotrophic organisms for high-value bioproduction. This multi-chamber design accelerates microbial consortium analysis, offering insights for system simulation and optimisation.

A corresponding model integrates CFD and biological modelling to simulate microbial interactions. Based on a modified BIO_ALGAE framework, it analyses members of the artificial microbial community in separate chambers, optimising conditions while enabling metabolic exchange. COMSOL Multiphysics™ models fluid dynamics, heat transfer, and species transport to predict optimal growth conditions.

Multi-chamber photobioreactor setup. The figure shows the compartmentalised bioreactor by an external light and CO2 farming chamber and an internal production ceramic chamber. Both spaces have independent culture settings according to the growing organism.

A gas-tight capillary bioreactor was developed to minimise product loss (H2), while a cell cytometry-based method was established for real-time biomass composition assessment. Additionally, EPS production analysis provided insights into biofilm performance. Initial outdoor experiments highlighted key operational constraints for future optimisation.

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Capillary biofilm reactor in the lab (A) and outside running under real-world conditions (C). (B) shows exemplary graphs from flow cytometry allowing close monitoring of population dynamics in the reactor.