DE102006033098A1 - Method and device for temporary storage of microbes - Google Patents

Abstract

In a method and a device for the interim storage of microbes, these are mixed with a carrier medium and then stored the mixture cooled.

Description

The The present invention relates to a method and a device for temporary storage of microbes.

at the production of z. As methane gas, in particular carbon dioxide containing exhaust gases, the exhaust gas through at least one reactor passed, which is a porous Contains material, which is flooded by a microbial nutrient solution, wherein while converting the carbon dioxide through the microbes into methane.

There the microbes are a living cell mechanism, This can be at a cheap Temperatures, z. B. at 55 ° C, multiply and on the other hand decimate, d. H. partially or completely die off. Furthermore, can Such reactors are temporary except Be set so that the remaining and usable microbes have to be stored then at a later date re-starting the reactor again to have available. Also new microbial strains that can not be used immediately have to be stored in an appropriate manner so as not to spoil.

Here implements the invention on which the object is based, a practicable Method and a suitable device for the temporary storage of microbes to create, with which the demands made at the beginning easy way to be met can.

to solution lead this task the features of the claims 1 and 13.

in this connection is essential that such a carrier medium is chosen, that with a cooled intermediate storage the microbes do not crystallize in the individual bacterial cells allows which would result in their death. therefor In particular, glycerol or another suitable carrier medium is suitable.

It is useful the glycerin is filled before mixing with the microbes in an oxygen-free container, which be achieved by a CO2 fumigation of the empty container in a simple manner can.

The actual mixing of the carrier medium with the microbes is best done in a mixing container, and although preferably in a ratio Glycerol / microbes of 50:50, where it is also appropriate the empty mixing container previously to make oxygen-free by a CO2 fumigation. Of course they are also other mixing ratios possible, Whatever the nature of the two components to be mixed depends.

Around Now preserving the microbes, the mixture of carrier medium and microbes by a spiral cooling coil with about 20-30 turns, which expediently through liquid Nitrogen cooled becomes.

thereupon will the cooled Mixture of carrier medium and microbes spent in handy containers, being for this appropriate plastic bottles are ideal. After this filling in the handy containers These are only placed in a freezer, which expediently a temperature between about -18 should have to -20 ° C. In use must then only the z. B. in plastic bottles present microbes only again heated d. H. thawed to come to a quick deployment.

When Microbes for The conversion of carbon dioxide into methane are particularly suitable a methanosarcinase strain and / or a bacterium Thermoautotrophicum. For other bacterially charged reactors, whether aerobic or anaerobic, can also conserve the microbial population accordingly and stored intermediately.

To proviso The present invention is characterized as a second solution step the device for implementation the method for storing microbes especially by it from that these separate containers for the Carrier medium and having the microbes connected to a mixing container which is a cooling unit connects, through which the mixture of carrier medium and Microbes of a filling station and a chilled one Final disposal can be fed is.

Further details and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description, on the one hand based on a schematically illustrated preferred flow plan for implementing the method for temporary storage of microbes, and on the other hand based on this flowchart and the schematic structure of the particularly suitable for carrying out the method Facility, the schedule being the only one 1 forms.

According to this schedule are a container 1 for the carrier medium and a container 2 provided for the microbes, which z. B. each have a content of 5-10 l. The container 1 has a filler neck that can be closed with a ball valve 3 and a likewise closable with a ball valve connection 4 for the CO2 fumigation, which takes place before the filling of the container 1 with the carrier medium, in this case glycerol.

The container 2 , which serves to accommodate the microbes also has a closable with a ball valve filler neck 5 and a hose coupling 6 to the respective reactor, not shown, which is also closed by a ball valve.

In this context should be mentioned that throughout the schedule or throughout the facility advantageous ball valves be used, since the sealing body is a ball with a cylindrical Bore is so open when Tap a straight flow passage there is virtually no resistance, especially for the living Microbes of great Advantage is.

The separately arranged containers 1 and 2 are over pipes 7 and 8th with interposed ball valves 9 and 10 with a mixing container 11 connected to the turn a CO2 bottle 12 connected.

From the mixing container 11 leads a pipe 13 with interposed ball valve 14 to a spiral cooling coil 15 , which consists of a stainless steel V2A and z. B. 20 turns. The cooling coil 15 is in a protective container 16 , in which cooling by liquid nitrogen takes place, indicated at 17 and may be referred to as a whole as a refrigeration unit.

Finally, go from the bottom of the protective container 16 one with the spiral cooling coil 15 connected pipeline 18 from, which again has a ball valve, denoted by 19 , and with a filling station, not shown 18 ' is connected, in which z. B. plastic bottles 20 be filled as a preservative container with the cooled mixture of glycerol and microbes. The full bottles 20 Finally come in a cooled final storage in the form of a freezer 21 where they are then stored at temperatures between about -18 and -20 ° C.

The inventive method for the interim storage of microbes has the following process steps on.

First, the container 1 in empty condition over the connection 4 fumigated with CO2 to get its interior oxygen-free. Then the container 1 over the filler neck 3 filled with glycerin. According to the amount of glycerol then the container 2 filled with microbes, either "fresh" over the filler neck 5 or via the hose coupling 6 "Used product" from a reactor, in each case the ball valves are to be operated in a known manner ..

The now filled with equal proportions container 1 and 2 then by means of ball valves 9 and 10 opened and the glycerine flows through the pipeline 7 and the microbes through the pipeline 8th in the mixing container 11 , the previously also in an empty state by a connected to this CO2 bottle 12 oxygen-free has been made.

By opening the ball valve 14 then the mixture flows through the spiral cooling coil 15 using the nitrogen cooling 17 was precooled, to the extent that a visible ice formation on the cooling coil 15 is available.

After that, the ball valve 19 to the filling station 18 ' open and the cooled mixture in suitable 2 l plastic bottles 20 spent. Finally, the frozen microbes are in the freezer 21 stored at -18 to -20 ° C.

• – einen weitgehend O2-freien Ablauf;
• – eine gute und schnelle mikrobenschonende Konservierung;
• – die Beibehaltung der Mikrobenvitalität;
• – eine kostengünstige Lagerung;
• – eine problemlose Revitalisierung zur Vermehrung;
• – eine erhebliche Zeitersparnis bei der Inbetriebnahme eines neuen Reaktors;
• – bei einer Leistungsminderung eines Reaktors ist eine sofortige Revitalisierung möglich und
• – es sind Mikrobenkombinationen bei einer Änderung der Gaszusammensetzung vorteilhaft möglich.

Overall, the method according to the invention, in addition to its device, offers a number of advantages for this, namely

• - A largely O2-free process;
• - a good and fast microbial preservation;
• - the maintenance of microbial vitality;
• - a cost-effective storage;
• - easy revitalization for reproduction;
• - a considerable time savings when commissioning a new reactor;
• - if the reactor is derated, immediate revitalization is possible and
• - Microbial combinations are advantageously possible with a change in the gas composition.

1

Glyzerinbehälter

2

microbes container

3

filler pipe

4

connection

5

filler pipe

6

hose coupling

7

pipeline

8th

pipeline

9

ball valve

10

ball valve

11

mixing tank

12

CO2 bottle

13

pipeline

14

ball valve

15

cooling coil

16

protective container

17

nitrogen cooling

18

pipeline

18 '

filling station

19

ball valve

20

plastic bottle

21

freezer

Claims (20)

Process for the temporary storage of microbes, characterized in that the microbes are mixed with a carrier medium and then the mixture is stored refrigerated. Method according to claim 1, characterized by Use of a carrier medium, that in a chilled Interim storage of microbes a crystal formation in the individual Prevents bacterial cell. Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized that the microbes in particular with glycerol or another suitable transfer medium be mixed. A method according to claim 3, characterized in that the glycerin as the carrier medium before mixing with the microbes in an oxygen-free container ( 1 ) is bottled. Method according to claim 4, characterized in that the container ( 1 ) is made oxygen-free by a CO2 fumigation. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the carrier medium and the microbes in a mixing container ( 11 ) are preferably mixed in a ratio of 50:50. A method according to claim 6, characterized in that the mixing container ( 11 ) is made free of oxygen before filling by a CO2 fumigation. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the mixture of carrier medium and microbes, a cooling coil ( 15 ) goes through. Method according to claim 8, characterized in that the cooling coil ( 15 ) by liquid nitrogen ( 17 ) is cooled. A method according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that the cooled mixture of carrier medium and microbes in handy containers, such as plastic bottles ( 20 ) is spent. A method according to claim 10, characterized in that the deep-frozen handy container ( 20 ) with the mixture of carrier medium and microbes in a freezer ( 21 ) are stored at about -18 to -20 ° C. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized characterized in that as microbes Methanosarcinastamm and / or a bacterium Thermoautotrophicum is used. Device for temporary storage of microbes, characterized in that these separate containers ( 1 . 2 ) for the carrier medium ( 1 ) and the microbes ( 2 ), which with a mixing container ( 11 ), to which a cooling coil ( 15 ), through which the mixture of carrier medium and microbes pre-cooled a filling station ( 18 ' ) and a cooled final storage ( 21 ) can be fed. Device according to claim 13, characterized in that the container ( 1 ) for the carrier medium in each case by a ball valve closable filler neck ( 3 ) and gas connection ( 4 ) having. Device according to claim 13, characterized in that the container ( 2 ) for the microbes in each case by a ball valve closable filler neck ( 5 ) and a hose coupling ( 6 ) having. Device according to claims 13 to 15, characterized in that the containers ( 1 respectively. 2 ) via pipelines ( 7 respectively. 8th ) with the interposition of a ball valve ( 9 respectively. 10 ) with the mixing container ( 11 ) are connected. Device according to claim 16, characterized in that on the mixing container ( 11 ) a CO2 bottle ( 12 ) is provided. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized. that as a cooling unit a spiral cooling coil ( 15 ), which in a protective container ( 16 ) and via a pipeline ( 18 ) with a ball valve ( 19 ) with a filling station ( 18 ' ) connected is. Device according to claim 18, characterized in that the cooling coil ( 15 ) in the protective container ( 16 ) by a nitrogen cooling ( 17 ) is cooled. Device according to claim 18 or 19, characterized in that to the filling station ( 18 ' ) preferably plastic bottles ( 20 ) and to a refrigerated repository such as a freezer ( 21 ) can be supplied.