SUPPLY, DELIVERY, INSTALLATION AND COMMISSIONING OF BIOREACTOR

Tender description

As part of the Technology Centre for Biorefining and Bioenergy, University of Limerick is participateing in the development of a pilot plant facility to research and develop applications for the production of bio-energy and bio-refined chemicals, polymers and fuels. As part of the pilot plant University of Limerick requires a bioreactor for controlled growth of biomass (fungal, microbial or yeast cell factories) and suitable for pilot scale-up production of enzyme cell factory cultures and enzyme media. Ideally the reactor would also double as a vessel useful for microbial fermentations across a variety of target biochemical/biopolymer products. The unit will need to operate in a batch or continuous batch mode in a sterile/semi sterile environment. The bio reactor should be robust and flexible, capable of handling a range of process protocols typical of those that may be reasonably anticipated by a knowledgeable supplier of equipment to microbiological R&D activities. The bioreactor will be a low-pressure vessel of circa 1 M3 capacity fabricated from a robust material that resists degradation with a finish that can be readily cleaned and sterilised. The frame should facilitate easy access that complies with health and safety requirements and should facilitate unit movement/relocation. The reactor must be flexible, capable of handling both aerobic and anaerobic biomass growth and biological reactions over a range of pH and temperatures, incorporating a gas introduction/mixing system and variable speed agitation. A feed system for introduction of both solid and liquid media is required along with exit ports suitable for easy removal of both solid and liquid process media. At a minimum the unit should incorporate suitable temperature and pH monitors and controls as well as sampling ports and viewing ports. An integrated software package for automated process monitoring and control would be a benefit.