Two-phase partitioning bioreactors: a new technology platform for destroying xenobiotics
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Updated: Oct 4, 2026

A Novel Bioreactor for High Density Cultivation of Diverse Microbial Communities
Published on: December 25, 2015
1Dept of Chemical Engineering, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada K7L 3N6. daugulis@chee.queensu.ca
Abstract:
Toxic organic compounds (xenobiotics) pose serious environmental and health risks worldwide. Biological treatment of these materials is severely constrained by their toxic and inhibitory nature and great care is required with respect to the rate at which they are provided to cells. The use of a second, distinct, organic phase in a bioreactor has been shown to provide a virtually foolproof means of feeding substrate to cells because this process concept relies only on thermodynamic equilibrium and the cells' own rate of metabolism. This technology can be applied to stockpiled xenobiotics as well as contamination of air, water and soil environments.
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