Hitachi, Ltd.

Agency of Industrial Science and Technology

Ryoichi Haga

Masahiko Ishida

Harumi Matsuzaki

Yoji Odawara

Yuusaku Nishimura

Nobuko Nishimura

Fumio Maruhashi

Kenji Baba

Tadashi Ishibashi

Kenichiro Oka

Keisuke Shibuya

Ken Amano

Ryusei Nakano

Masaru Namba

Setuo Saitoh

Masami Satoh

This invention provides a culture control method and a cell culture apparatus that enable stable cell culture by regulating shear stress to be applied to cells within an adequate range. With the application of such culture control method and cell culture apparatus, cell culture is performed under agitation culture conditions in which the shear stress distribution is 0.5 Pa to 20 Pa in 80% or more of the culture vessel by volume.

Culture control method, cell culture apparatus, and apparatus for evaluation of cellular characteristics

In order to investigate an object, such as a culture of micro-organisms, the object is repeatedly captured at two different magnifications by a suitable image pick-up device. The images at the two different magnifications are then analysed by a suitable picture image recognition device and the results of the repeated analysis are compared, thereby to derive a measurement of the change in the object with time. Thus, for a culture of micro-organisms, the number of cells can be determined at one magnification and the number of microscopic spherical bodies can be determined at another magnification, to obtain a measure of the activity of the culture. Preferably, one or more conditions of the object are then controlled on the basis of the measurement of change.

Method and apparatus for investigating and controlling an object

A centrifugal separation method for living cells is disclosed in which a cell containing solution is charged in a rotor chamber confined by a steam pressure-resistant wall. A rotor having septa is disposed in the rotor chamber. The septa are rotatable in the same direction at the same angular velocity as the rotor while at least part thereof is immersed in a solution in the rotor when cells are to be centrifuged from the cell-containing solution. After the cells are separated and adhered to the inner surface of the rotor, a supernatant in the rotor is discharged form the rotor. Then a fresh cultivating medium is introduced into the rotor, and the septa and the rotor are rotated at mutually different angular velocities while at least part of the septa is immersed in the fresh medium in the rotor. As a result, the cells are again suspended in the fresh medium.

Apparatus for separating living cells

Cross-linked polyglucans obtained by cross-linking polyglucans having branched chains intermolecularly and/or intramolecularly or cross-linked homooligomers obtained by cross-linking .alpha.-1,4-linked homooligomers of glucose intermolecularly can selectively adsorb glucoamylase and/or .beta.-amylase thereto. By the use of such three-dimensional, cross-linked high molecular weight substances, glucoamylase and .beta.-amylase can be isolated and purified extremely efficiently.

Method for isolation and purification of amylases, and adsorbents used

A culturing method and system are disclosed in which a cell culture broth in withdrawn from a culturing apparatus to a filteration apparatus. The withdrawn broth in brought into contact with a membrane for precision filteration. Then a non-toxic gas is brown into the broth, while filtering the broth to separate the cells and breaking foams occurring on the surface of the broth due to gas bubbling. The separated cells are returned to the vessel and the filterate is withdrawn from the filteration apparatus. The method and system have such advantages that a perfusion culture of a long period of time can be realized because the clogging of the filteration membrane is effectively prevented.

Culturing method, system and apparatus for cell culture

An apparatus for culturing animal cells, includes a diagnosis system to make it possible to diagnose by measuring sizes of the cells by means of image processing while a system of culturing the animal cells is cut off from the outside of the apparatus system, a control system to control the culture conditions of a culturing cistern on the basis of a result of the diagnosis, and a culture medium regenerating system to remove waste contents in a culture medium. In the apparatus of this invention, the culture system and diagnosis system are cut off from the outside of the apparatus system. Therefore, no infection of miscellaneous microorganism, etc., occurs, nor does consumption of valuable cells and products occur. Further, since it is possible to easily obtain data of the proportions of division potential-possessing cells and living cells, the environmental factors to the culturing cistern can be easily and instantly controlled based on the data, and therefore, the culturing efficiency can be enhanced.

Apparatus and method of culturing and diagnosis of animal cells using

A centrifugal separation method for living cells is disclosed in which a cell containing solution is charged in a rotor chamber confined by a steam pressure-resistant wall. A rotor having septa is disposed in the rotor chamber. The septa are rotatable in the same direction at the same angular velocity as the rotor while at least part thereof is immersed in a solution in the rotor when cells are to be centrifuged from the cell-containing solution. After the cells are separated and adhered to the inner surface of the rotor, a supernatant in the rotor is discharged from the rotor. Then a fresh cultivating medium is introduced into the rotor, and the septa and the rotor are rotated at mutually different angular velocities while at least part of the septa is immersed in the fresh medium in the rotor. As a result, the cells are again suspended in the fresh medium.

Method of separating living cells

An immobilized enzyme having high activity and stability is obtained by immobilizing an enzyme on a water-insoluble amino group-containing carrier by use of a polyfunctional cross-linking agent such as glutaraldehyde in the presence of a phenolic carboxylic acid having one or more hydroxyl groups such as tannic acid. In addition to the phenolic carboxylic acid, a basic polysaccharide such as chitosan may also be present. The amino group-containing carrier may be aminated silica gel, aminated porous glass, aminated zeolite, or water insoluble crosslinked chitosen.

Enzyme immobilization on a water-insoluble amino group-containing carrier

The present invention relates to a treatment process of anaerobically digesting organic wastes under an anaerobic condition for recovering methane from the organic wastes by fermentation effect of anaerobic bacteria. This treatment process is carried out by the charging organic wastes of 50.about.70% water content and seed digestives alternately in strata in a digestion tank and then keeping the interior of said digestion tank under an anaerobic condition.

Treating process of organic wastes

The present invention relates to an anaerobic digestion process of wastes containing cellulose, in which, after liquefying by bringing wastes containing cellulose in slurry state into contact with facultative anaerobic bacteria with pH adjusted between 6.5-8.0 and oxidation-reduction potential controlled between -50-300 mV with oxygen supply, the liquefied slurry is then converted into methane and carbon dioxide by bringing it into contact with obligatory anaerobic bacteria to recover methane efficiently.

Anaerobic digestion process of wastes containing cellulose

The present invention relates to an anaerobic digestion process for organic wastes with a high efficiency and an improved recovery rate of methane. This process comprises the following steps: (1) anaerobically digesting organic wastes under simultaneous presence of facultative anaerobic bacteria and obligatory anaerobic bacteria, (2) separating the anaerobically digested slurry obtained from the step (1) into a liquor fraction containing the two groups of bacteria and an undecomposed solid fraction, (3) mixing the liquor fraction obtained from the step (2) with the surplus activated sludge slurry produced by anaerobically treating organic waste water, under anaerobic condition, (4) separating the mixed slurry obtained from the step (3) into a solid fraction containing the surplus activated sludge which has absorbed the two groups of bacteria and a liquor fraction, and recycling back the solid fraction obtained from the step (4) as the sources of the two groups of bacteria and nitrogen to the step (1).

Anaerobic digestion process for organic wastes

Methane gas produced according to an anaerobic digestion of organic wastes is introduced into digested separated water which is alkalized by a photo-culture of algae, whereby impurity carbon dioxide gas is removed by absorption. Accordingly, methane of high concentration is recovered and at the same time, by-product algae is recycled as feedstock, and thereby improving the yield of methane.

Anaerobic digestion process

The present invention relates to a process for digesting garbage or garbage contained wastes, particularly to a microbiological treatment which facilitates the treatment with high efficiency and economics, for the recovery of methane gas, first, by effecting an alcohol fermentation treatment by alcohol fermentative yeasts which can directly convert starch into ethanol without a starch hydrolysis pretreatment in the slurry state, followed by a direct methanization by methane bacteria of the fermented product containing ethanol, without effecting sterilization treatment of garbage or garbage contained wastes.

Treating process of garbage contained wastes

The present invention relates to a process for digestion treatment of organic wastes that are difficult to digest, with a high efficiency and an improved recovery rate of methane. The wastes, before subjected to anaerobic treatment, are heated at 55.degree.-75.degree. C. within an acid or alkaline solution for dissolving digestible ingredients and the insoluble ingredients are eliminated before being transferred to an anaerobic digestion step. By exercising a pre-treatment for dissolving and separating digestible ingredients, the size of the container will be minimized as a result of the shortened time required for digestion and the recovery rate of methane will be improved.

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Hitachi, Japan

Ryoichi Haga