Bioreactors

A bioreactor is a vessel containing a substrate or growth medium capable of supporting the growth of living organisms such as bacteria, yeast or cells in suspension culture. It is used in a variety of industries including pharmaceutical, environmental, food and biotechnology production. By providing a constant supply of nutrients and an environment suitable to support metabolism, bioreactors are used to increase the efficiency of the metabolic process and produce a higher yield of the desired product. In addition, bioreactors provide a controlled medium to study the physiology of cells and organisms and to analyze their metabolic pathways. Bioreactors are an essential tool for graduating from laboratory-scale to a larger-scale commercial production.