METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR GROWING BIOMASS PARTICLES

摘要

2106064 9314192 PCTABS00024 The present invention provides an improved method and apparatus for growing biomass particles (15), particularly microcarrier-bound cells, in an agitated suspension culture vessel (10) in which fresh culture medium is added and spent culture medium is withdrawn continuously or semi-continuously. The improvement comprises withdrawing the spent culture medium through a particle settling chamber (26) located within the vessel (10) and at least partially immersed in the agitated culture medium therewithin. The particle settling chamber (26) comprises a hollow container (27, 28) with a bottom opening (18) through which biomass particles (15), such as microcarrier-bound cells, settle by a gravity back into the agitated culture medium and a top opening (19) through which particle-free spent culture medium is withdrawn from the vessel (10). The settling chamber (26) is configured such that the fluid velocity of culture medium entering the settling chamber (26) through the bottom opening (18) is significantly less than the biomass p article settling velocity.