Biochemical Processes

Biochemical processes can be used for both, CO2 conversion and hydrogen generation, as well as some other environmental applications. Current research interests of projects carried out at the RICH center are the understanding of the selective and environmental forces driving microbial communities’ behavior for process and environmental applications. Processes include anaerobic digestion and fermentation, microbial electrochemical technologies and biological wastewater treatment and resource recovery in general.

Notable equipment used in this lab are:

  • Bioreactor Fermac 360 (4 units): fully instrumented fermentation system with reactor vessel, pumping and built-in control systems for pH, temperature and flow. It can be used for a variety of bioreactor setups including anerobic/aerobic cultivations and the ability to work as a photobioreactor when using the light shroud.
  • Multichannel potentiostat (BioLogic VMP3): ±10 V adjustable; 400 mA to 10 µA; 1 MHz down to 10 µHz; up to 16 channels.
  • Oven/Incubator: up to 250 °C.
  • Centrifuge (Hettich Universal 320): Max. Capacity 4 x 200 mL / 6 x 94 mL; Max. RPM/RCF 15,000/21,382.
  • Automatic Methane Potential Test System (AMPTS)
  • Laminar flow cabinet.
  • Biosafety cabinet.
  • HACH portable spectrophotometer DR2800: for rapid liquid analysis by using one of the 240 analytical methods available (e.g. total organic carbon, ammonium, nitrate, nitrite, and more).
  • HACH HT200S high temperature thermostat: for analysis of COD, TNb, Ptot and heavy metals.
  • Shimadzu gas chromatograph with FID detector (shared with Photocatalytic and Chemical Reaction Lab).
  • Shimadzu gas chromatograph with TCD detector (shared with Photocatalytic and Chemical Reaction Lab).
  • Thermo Scientific HPLC with diode array and refractive index detector (shared with Photocatalytic and Chemical Reaction Lab).