Methods and apparatus for enhancement of mass transfer of a fluid in a porous matrix system containing biomass

摘要

A biological process is enhanced by a method and apparatus used to contact a biomass with a gas and with a nutrient liquid. A resiliently compressible porous matrix system containing the biomass is mounted in a reaction vessel containing a body of the nutrient liquid and a body of the gas above the body of the liquid. The body of liquid having an upper surface exposed to the body of gas and defining a liquid-gas interface. The resiliently compressible porous matrix system is located in a position in the reaction vessel so that compressible porous matrix system is partly immersed in the nutrient liquid and partly extends above the upper surface of the liquid into the body of gas. The mounting of the porous matrix system is used to rotate the system about a substantially horizontal axis such that a member or the location of the rotational axis relative to the reaction vessel acts on compressible porous matrix system causing periodic compression and expansion of regions of the porous matrix system without significant loss to the biomass.