Fermenter

Claim 1

A fermentation apparatus comprising: a fermentation container formed with a closure at the top thereof and adapted to receive a culture medium; a first tube extending through said closure into said container and terminating at an upper portion of said container while being connected to a condenser coil for condensing water vapor formed in said container and returning the condensed water vapor thereto; a decontamination and venting system connected to said coil and including a vessel containing a caustic solution and at least one further vessel disposed between the caustic solution vessel having tubes opening into the top thereof and respectively communicating with said coil and with said caustic solution vessel below the level of the caustic solution therein; temperature monitoring means extending through said closure into said vessel; a second tube extending through said closure into said vessel, provided with an air filter and connectable to a source of fluid pressure operable to draw material into said container or drive material from said container; a third tube extending through said closure into said container and extending substantially to the bottom thereof; a harvesting system including a pair of vessels connected to said third tube for receiving material displaced by fluid pressure through said third tube; a fourth tube extending through said closure into said container substantially to the bottom thereof and connected to a sampling vessel; and a fifth tube extending through said closure substantially to the bottom of said container and connected to a seeding vessel adapted to receive an inoculum for said medium and enable said inoculum to be transferred to said container through said fifth tube, said harvesting, sampling and seeding vessels each being provided with air filters adapted to be connected to said source.