Microbial inoculant propagation equipment for environmental management and production process thereof

Abstract

The application discloses a kind of microbial inoculum's expansion equipment for environmental management, belong to microorganism culture equipment technical field;Including jar body, carrier support assembly, expansion control component and bacteria separation component.The inner chamber of jar body is divided into lower culture chamber and upper treatment chamber by first partition plate;Carrier support assembly is set in the jar body in a way that can be lifted, for carrying solid carrier, with the first position of rising to the treatment chamber and the second position of descending to the culture chamber;Expansion control component is installed in culture chamber, for maintaining the microbial expansion environment in culture chamber;Bacteria separation component is installed in treatment chamber, for separating the bacteria from solid carrier after expansion when carrier support assembly is in the first position;The application is integrated design, completes microbial expansion and bacteria separation treatment in the same jar body, reduces material transfer link, reduces pollution risk, improves production efficiency.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of microbial culture equipment technology, and in particular to a propagation device and production process for a microbial agent for environmental remediation. Background Technology

[0002] Microbial agents for environmental remediation are widely used in wastewater treatment, soil remediation, and the treatment of black and odorous water bodies. The production of microbial agents typically involves steps such as strain propagation, cell isolation, and formulation. Among these, the propagation stage directly determines the yield, activity, and production cost of the agent.

[0003] Currently, the propagation of microbial agents mainly employs either liquid submerged fermentation or solid-state fermentation. Liquid submerged fermentation is carried out in stirred tanks or airlift fermenters, where the microbial cells grow in suspension in a liquid culture medium. After propagation, the cells are collected through separation processes such as centrifugation or filtration. Solid-state fermentation uses drum or tray fermentation equipment, where the microbial cells grow attached to the surface of a solid carrier. After propagation, post-processing processes such as drying and cell peeling or pulverization are required.

[0004] In existing solid-state fermentation propagation equipment, the propagation process and subsequent cell separation and drying processes typically need to be completed in different devices. For example, propagation and cultivation are first carried out in a separate fermenter. After propagation, the solid carrier with attached cells is transferred to a drying device for drying, and then transferred to a separation device for cell peeling or pulverization. This multi-device series production mode has the following problems: First, the material is transferred multiple times between different devices, increasing the number of operation steps and labor intensity, resulting in low production efficiency; second, the material is exposed to the external environment during each transfer, increasing the risk of contamination by other microorganisms and affecting the purity of the inoculant product; third, multiple devices occupy a large area and have high equipment investment costs, which is not conducive to the large-scale and efficient production of microbial inoculants.

[0005] Therefore, how to provide an integrated propagation device that can complete microbial propagation and cell separation within the same equipment, reduce material transfer steps, lower the risk of contamination, and improve production efficiency has become an urgent technical problem to be solved in this field. Summary of the Invention

[0006] To improve production efficiency, this application provides a propagation device for microbial agents used in environmental remediation, employing the following technical solution: A propagation device for microbial agents used in environmental remediation, comprising: The tank body has its interior cavity divided into a lower culture chamber and an upper processing chamber by a first partition plate; A carrier support assembly is disposed in the tank in a liftable manner to support a solid carrier for microbial attachment; the carrier support assembly has a first position that rises into the processing chamber and a second position that descends into the culture chamber; A propagation control component is installed in the culture chamber to maintain the microbial propagation environment within the culture chamber. A bacterial cell separation component is installed in the processing chamber and is used to separate the propagated bacterial cells from the solid carrier when the carrier support component is in the first position.

[0007] Furthermore, the carrier support assembly includes: The culture tube is vertically installed inside the tank. Multiple through holes for the culture medium to flow through are opened in the middle of the tube wall. Each of its first and second ends is provided with an openable and closable end cap. The first partition plate has a clearance hole for the culture tube to pass through. The peripheral wall of the culture tube and / or the end cap are configured to block the clearance hole when the carrier support assembly is in the first position or the second position, so as to isolate the culture chamber from the processing chamber. A lifting drive component is disposed in the tank and is used to drive the culture tube to rise and fall, so that the carrier support component switches between the first position and the second position.

[0008] Furthermore, the inner wall of the culture tube is provided with a plurality of first air inlets, which are connected to an external air source through a pipeline.

[0009] Furthermore, a sealing tube is provided on the first partition plate. The sealing tube is coaxially disposed at the clearance hole and extends upward. The outer wall surface of the culture tube slides against the inner wall surface of the sealing tube to seal the gap between the culture tube and the first partition plate.

[0010] Furthermore, the bacterial cell separation component includes: The first rotating shaft is vertically disposed within the processing chamber and rotatably connected to the tank body; Two first mounting discs are circumferentially spaced along the first rotation axis, and each first mounting disc is slidably connected to the first rotation axis in a manner that allows it to slide along the first rotation axis axially; the first mounting disc is configured to be movable directly above the culture tube and to seal its upper opening; each first mounting disc is provided with an exhaust hole and a collection hole, both of which penetrate the first mounting disc; Two second rotating shafts are respectively corresponding to one of the first mounting plates. Each second rotating shaft is rotatably connected to the lower part of the corresponding first mounting plate. A first gas channel is provided in the second rotating shaft, and the air inlet of the first gas channel is connected to an external gas source. A bacterial peeling component, mounted on one of the second rotating shafts, is used to peel off bacterial cells attached to a carrier; A pulverizing component, mounted on another second rotating shaft, is used to pulverize the carrier with attached bacteria.

[0011] Furthermore, the culture tubes are provided in multiple ways, and each culture tube is distributed circumferentially along the first rotation axis; the culture chamber is provided with multiple second partition plates, the second partition plates are located below the first partition plates, and divide the culture chamber into multiple non-communicating sector-shaped cavities, each sector-shaped cavity corresponding to one culture tube.

[0012] Furthermore, the first partition plate is rotatably connected to the tank body, and its rotation axis coincides with the axis of the first rotation shaft; The carrier support component also includes: A fixed shaft is coaxially fixed above the first partition plate; Multiple connecting rods correspond one-to-one with each of the culture tubes; the first end of each connecting rod is slidably connected to the fixed shaft in a vertical direction, and the lifting drive drives the connecting rod to slide up and down, and the second end is fixedly connected to the corresponding culture tube; the connecting rod is configured to extend and retract radially along the tank body to move the culture tube closer to or away from the fixed shaft; A discharge port is provided on the side wall of the tank, and the discharge port is located in the area where the processing chamber is located. Furthermore, each of the second partition plates is radially distributed and intersects with each other in the central region of the culture chamber to form a junction area. A mixing port connecting the adjacent fan-shaped cavities is provided on the junction area. A sealing plate that can move vertically is provided at the mixing port. The sealing plate is configured to close or open the mixing port so that the culture medium in the adjacent fan-shaped cavities comes into contact with each other when the mixing port is opened.

[0013] This application provides a production process for microbial agents used in environmental remediation, employing the following technical solution: A production process for a microbial agent for environmental remediation includes the following steps: Propagation preparation: The solid carrier is loaded into the culture tube, the carrier support assembly is moved to the second position, so that the culture tube is in the culture chamber and the clearance hole is sealed; Propagation and cultivation: Culture medium and gas are introduced into the culture chamber and the temperature is controlled by the propagation and regulation component, so that microorganisms attach to and propagate on the solid carrier, forming a carrier with attached bacterial cells. Transfer step: After propagation is completed, the carrier support assembly is moved to the first position, so that the culture tube is in the processing chamber and the clearance hole is blocked; Cell separation: The cell separation component acts on the solid carrier to separate the propagated cells from the solid carrier, thereby obtaining the bacterial agent product.

[0014] In summary, the beneficial technical effects of this application are as follows: 1. A propagation device for microbial agents used in environmental remediation is designed, in which a solid carrier is moved to a second position for propagation by a carrier support component, and then moved to a first position for peeling, thereby reducing material transfer steps and improving production efficiency; 2. A propagation device for microbial agents used in environmental remediation is designed, which increases the exchange frequency of culture medium inside and outside the culture tube through the first air inlet; 3. A propagation device for microbial agents used in environmental remediation is designed, which uses a cell peeling component and a crushing component to peel off microorganisms with different requirements. Attached Figure Description

[0015] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of a propagation device for microbial agents used in environmental remediation according to an embodiment of this application; Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the internal structure of a propagation device for microbial agents used in environmental remediation according to an embodiment of this application; Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the internal structure of a propagation device for microbial agents used in environmental remediation, according to an embodiment of this application. Figure 4 This is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of the carrier support component, intended to show the internal structure; Figure 5 This is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of the carrier bacterial cell separation component, intended to show its internal structure; Figure 6 This is a partial structural schematic diagram of a propagation device for microbial agents used in environmental remediation, according to an embodiment of this application.

[0016] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures: 1. Tank body; 11. First partition plate; 111. Clearance hole; 12. Culture chamber; 13. Processing chamber; 14. Sealing tube; 15. Second partition plate; 151. Fan-shaped cavity; 152. Mixing port; 153. Sealing plate; 16. Discharge port; 161. Automatic door; 2. Carrier support assembly; 21. Culture tube; 211. Through hole; 212. End cap; 213. First air inlet; 22. Lifting drive component; 23. Fixing 1. Shaft; 24. Connecting rod; 3. Propagation and control assembly; 31. Infusion tube; 32. Aeration tube; 33. Exhaust tube; 34. Feeding head; 4. Cell separation assembly; 41. First rotating shaft; 42. First mounting plate; 421. Exhaust hole; 422. Collection hole; 43. Second rotating shaft; 431. First gas channel; 44. Cell peeling component; 441. Elastic rod; 442. Brush bristles; 45. Crusher; 451. Crusher blade assembly. Detailed Implementation

[0017] The technical solutions of this application will now be clearly and completely described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some, not all, of the embodiments of this application. Based on the embodiments of this application, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0018] This application discloses a propagation device for microbial agents used in environmental remediation.

[0019] Reference Figure 1 , Figure 2 and Figure 3 This application provides a propagation device for microbial agents used in environmental remediation, comprising a tank 1, a carrier support component 2, a propagation control component 3, and a cell separation component 4. The inner cavity of the tank 1 is divided by a first partition plate 11 into a lower culture chamber 12 and an upper processing chamber 13. The carrier support component 2 is vertically movable within the tank 1 and is used to support a solid carrier for microbial attachment. The carrier support component 2 has a first position raised into the processing chamber 13 and a second position lowered into the culture chamber 12. The first position corresponds to the cell separation station and the carrier loading station, and the second position corresponds to the cell culture station. The propagation control component 3 is installed in the culture chamber 12 and is used to provide the gas, liquid, and temperature conditions required for microbial propagation within the culture chamber 12. The cell separation component 4 is installed in the processing chamber 13 and is used to separate the propagated cells from the solid carrier when the carrier support component 2 is in the first position.

[0020] Based on the above structure, the workflow of the equipment in this application is as follows: The operator first holds the carrier support assembly 2 in the first position, i.e., within the processing chamber 13, and loads the selected solid carrier into the carrier support assembly 2. After loading, the carrier support assembly 2 descends to the second position and enters the culture chamber 12, where the first partition plate 11 separates the upper and lower chambers. The propagation control assembly 3 then introduces sterile culture medium and gas into the culture chamber 12 and adjusts the temperature to a suitable level, allowing the target microorganisms to attach, grow, and proliferate on the surface of the solid carrier. After propagation, the carrier support assembly 2 rises back to the first position and enters the processing chamber 13. The cell separation assembly 4 applies mechanical action to the solid carrier, peeling off the attached cells or crushing them together with the carrier to obtain the microbial agent product. After processing, the operator can hold the carrier support assembly 2 in the first position, clean up the waste carrier, and load a new batch of solid carriers for the next round of propagation. The entire loading, propagation and processing process is completed in a single tank 1, avoiding the risk of contamination and operational complexity caused by the transfer of materials between different devices in traditional processes, and significantly improving production efficiency and product quality.

[0021] Reference Figure 2 , Figure 3 and Figure 4 The carrier support assembly 2 includes a culture tube 21 and a lifting drive 22. The culture tube 21 is vertically installed inside the tank 1, and its wall has multiple through holes 211 for the culture medium to flow through. Each of its first and second ends has an openable and closable end cap 212. Each end cap 212 is connected to an electrically controlled drive to automatically open or close the end cap 212. When closed, the end cap 212 forms a sealed fit with the port of the culture tube 21. A clearance hole 111 is provided on the first partition plate 11 for the culture tube 21 to pass through. When the carrier support assembly 2 is in the first or second position, the peripheral wall of the culture tube 21 and / or the end cap 212 seal the clearance hole 111 to isolate the culture chamber 12 from the processing chamber 13, preventing gas or liquid crosstalk between the two chambers during culture or processing, and ensuring that the sterile environment of the culture chamber 12 is not compromised. A lifting drive component 22 is disposed on the tank body 1 and is used to drive the culture tube 21 to rise and fall, so that the carrier support assembly 2 switches between a first position and a second position. In this application, the lifting drive component 22 is preferably a cylinder, which is installed in the processing chamber 13, and its piston rod is connected to the culture tube 21, driving the culture tube 21 to move up and down through telescopic movement.

[0022] Based on the above structure, the working process of the carrier support component 2 is as follows: In the initial state, the culture tube 21 is in the first position, and the upper cover 212 is open. The operator or automatic feeding device loads the selected solid carrier into the culture tube 21, and then the electronically controlled drive drives the upper cover 212 to close. After loading, the cylinder drives the culture tube 21 to descend to the second position, so that the culture tube 21 enters the culture chamber 12. At this time, the peripheral wall of the culture tube 21 or the lower cover 212 just blocks the clearance hole 111 on the first partition plate 11, realizing the isolation of the two chambers. During the propagation process, the lower cover 212 remains closed, and the through hole 211 in the middle of the culture tube 21 communicates with the culture medium in the culture chamber 12, ensuring that the microorganisms can fully attach and propagate on the carrier. After the propagation is completed, the cylinder drives the culture tube 21 to rise to the first position again, and the peripheral wall of the culture tube 21 or the upper cover 212 blocks the clearance hole 111 again. Subsequently, the electronically controlled drive unit opens the upper or lower end cap 212, and the bacterial separation component 4 processes the carrier inside the culture tube 21, separating and collecting the bacteria attached to it. Throughout the process, the opening and closing of the end cap 212, the raising and lowering of the culture tube 21, and the movement of the bacterial separation component 4 are all automatically coordinated by the control system, realizing fully automated operation from loading and propagation to separation, significantly reducing manual intervention and improving production efficiency and operational stability.

[0023] Reference Figure 2 , Figure 3 and Figure 4 To facilitate the exchange of culture medium between the culture tube 21 and the external culture medium, multiple first air inlets 213 are provided on the inner wall of the culture tube 21. These first air inlets 213 are connected to an external air source via pipes. During propagation, the external air source supplies air to the first air inlets 213 through the pipes. The gas enters the culture medium inside the culture tube 21 in the form of bubbles. Under buoyancy, the bubbles move upwards, causing the culture medium inside the culture tube 21 to flow upwards. This pushes the relatively oxygen-deficient and stale culture medium inside the culture tube 21 upwards and out through the through-hole 211 at the top of the culture tube 21. Simultaneously, the relatively oxygen-rich and fresh culture medium outside the culture tube 21 is drawn into the culture tube 21 through the through-hole 211 in the middle and lower part of the culture tube 21, thus creating a continuous circulating exchange flow inside and outside the culture tube 21. This pneumatic circulation mechanism eliminates the need for mechanical stirring components, effectively preventing the formation of stagnant water zones within the culture tube 21 and ensuring that microorganisms in each area of ​​the tube receive nutrients and dissolved oxygen evenly. It also avoids shear damage to the bacterial cells caused by mechanical stirring, making it particularly suitable for the propagation and cultivation of filamentous bacteria that are sensitive to shear force and certain engineered strains used in environmental remediation.

[0024] Reference Figure 2 , Figure 3 and Figure 4To further reduce the environmental interference of the culture tube 21 to the culture chamber 12 during its lifting and lowering movement, a sealing tube 14 is provided on the first partition plate 11. The sealing tube 14 is coaxially arranged at the clearance hole 111 and extends upward. The outer wall surface of the culture tube 21 slides and fits against the inner wall surface of the sealing tube 14 to seal the gap between the culture tube 21 and the first partition plate 11.

[0025] During operation, as the culture tube 21 moves up and down under the drive of the lifting drive component 22, the inner wall of the sealing tube 14 and the outer wall of the culture tube 21 maintain sliding contact, forming a dynamic seal. Whether the culture tube 21 is in the transitional state passing through the clearance hole 111 or in the stationary state after reaching the first or second position, this sliding contact relationship is maintained, ensuring that the gap between the culture chamber 12 and the processing chamber 13 is continuously sealed, preventing temporary gas or liquid cross-contamination between the two chambers due to the movement of the culture tube 21. This structure requires no additional opening or closing action; dynamic isolation between chambers can be achieved synchronously solely through the lifting movement of the culture tube 21 itself, simplifying the control logic and improving the reliability and aseptic assurance level of the equipment.

[0026] Reference Figure 1 and Figure 2 The propagation control component 3 provides the necessary gas, liquid, and temperature conditions for microbial propagation within the culture chamber 12. Specifically, it includes an infusion pipe 31, an aeration pipe 32, an exhaust pipe 33, and a feeding head 34. The infusion pipe 31 connects to the bottom of the culture chamber 12 and is used to introduce fresh culture medium into the chamber or to discharge waste liquid after propagation. The aeration pipe 32 is installed at the bottom of the culture chamber 12 and connects to an external sterile gas source, introducing sterile gas into the chamber to provide dissolved oxygen for microbial growth and to promote the circulation of the culture medium within the chamber. The exhaust pipe 33 is installed at the top of the culture chamber 12 to discharge metabolic waste gas and excess gas generated during propagation, maintaining pressure balance within the chamber. The feeding head 34 is located within the processing chamber 13 and is used to add solid carriers and initial inoculum into the culture tube 21 when the carrier support component 2 is in the first position.

[0027] Based on the above structure, the working process of the propagation control component 3 is as follows: In the initial state, the carrier support component 2 is in the first position, and the feeding head 34 quantitatively adds solid carrier and initial inoculum into the culture tube 21. After loading, the carrier support component 2 descends to the second position, and the culture tube 21 enters the culture chamber 12. The infusion tube 31 pumps sterile culture medium into the culture chamber 12, so that the culture medium submerges the through hole 211 in the middle of the culture tube 21 and makes full contact with the solid carrier inside the tube. The aeration tube 32 continuously introduces sterile gas into the culture chamber 12, and the bubbles move from bottom to top, stirring the culture medium and replenishing dissolved oxygen. Waste gas and excess gas generated during the propagation process are discharged through the exhaust pipe 33. After propagation is completed, the infusion tube 31 discharges the waste liquid in the culture chamber 12, and then the carrier support component 2 rises to the first position to enter the cell separation process. The propagation control component 3 integrates liquid supply, gas supply, exhaust and inoculation feeding functions into one unit. The components work together to ensure that microorganisms propagate efficiently in a closed and stable environment.

[0028] Reference Figure 2 , Figure 3 and Figure 5 The bacterial cell separation component 4 is used to separate the propagated bacterial cells from the solid carrier when the carrier support component 2 is in the first position. The bacterial cell separation component 4 includes a first rotating shaft 41, two first mounting discs 42, two second rotating shafts 43, a bacterial cell peeling component 44, and a pulverizing component 45.

[0029] The first rotating shaft 41 is vertically disposed within the processing chamber 13 and rotatably connected to the tank body 1. The air inlet end of the first gas channel 431 is connected to an external gas source. Two first mounting plates 42 are circumferentially spaced along the first rotating shaft 41, and each first mounting plate 42 is slidably connected to the first rotating shaft 41. The first mounting plate 42 is configured to move directly above the culture tube 21 and seal its upper opening. Each first mounting plate 42 is provided with an exhaust hole 421 and a collection hole 422, both of which penetrate the first mounting plate 42. Two second rotating shafts 43 correspond to one first mounting plate 42 respectively, and each second rotating shaft 43 is rotatably connected to the lower part of the corresponding first mounting plate 42. The second rotating shaft 43 is provided with a first gas channel 431. A bacterial cell peeling component 44 is mounted on one of the second rotating shafts 43 and is used to peel off the bacterial cells attached to the carrier. The crushing component 45 is mounted on another second rotating shaft 43 and is used to crush the carrier with attached bacteria together; in this application, both the first rotating shaft 41 and the second rotating shaft 43 are driven to rotate by a motor, and the first mounting plate 42 is driven to move up and down by a cylinder.

[0030] Based on the above structure, the working process of the bacterial separation component 4 is as follows: After the carrier support component 2 rises to the first position, the upper opening of the culture tube 21 is flush with or slightly higher than the first partition plate 11. The first rotating shaft 41 drives the two first mounting plates 42 to rotate, and according to the processing requirements, the corresponding first mounting plate 42 with the bacterial peeling component 44 or the pulverizing component 45 is rotated to directly above the culture tube 21. Then, the first mounting plate 42 slides down along the first rotating shaft 41, pressing its lower end face against the upper opening of the culture tube 21 to form a seal. During processing, an external air source introduces gas into the culture tube 21 through the first gas channel 431 in the second rotating shaft 42: if drying is to be performed, hot gas is introduced and discharged from the exhaust port 421 to remove moisture from the carrier; if bacterial peeling or pulverizing is to be performed after drying, the bacterial peeling component 44 or the pulverizing component 45 rotates under the drive of the second rotating shaft 43, applying a scraping or pulverizing action to the solid carrier, causing the bacteria to fall off the carrier or be pulverized along with the carrier. After processing, ambient temperature gas is introduced from an external air source through the first gas channel 431, blowing up the detached bacterial powder or pulverized carrier powder. Simultaneously, an external negative pressure collection device connected to the collection hole 422 extracts and collects the powder, yielding the bacterial agent product. Furthermore, after each batch of production or before changing the bacterial strain, a high-temperature sterilization gas can be introduced from an external air source through the first gas channel 431 into the culture tube 21. The high-temperature gas flows through the interior of the culture tube 21 and the exhaust hole 421 of the first mounting plate 42, performing in-situ high-temperature sterilization on the inner wall of the culture tube 21, the solid carrier contact surface, and related components within the processing chamber 13. This sterilization process can be completed without disassembling the equipment, ensuring that the next batch of production is not contaminated by residual microorganisms from the previous batch. The exhaust hole 421 and the collection hole 422 can be selectively opened or closed according to different operating conditions to ensure that the airflow direction matches the processing requirements.

[0031] The bacterial separation component 4 integrates bacterial peeling and pulverizing functions within the same processing chamber 13. It allows for rapid switching between the two processing modes via the rotation of the first rotating shaft 41, eliminating the need to change tooling or transfer materials. Simultaneously, the first rotating shaft 41 also serves as a gas conveying channel, capable of supplying hot air during drying, blowing materials during collection, and performing in-situ high-temperature sterilization between batches. Its compact structure and concentrated functions significantly improve the equipment's integration, operational efficiency, and aseptic assurance level.

[0032] Reference Figure 2 , Figure 3 and Figure 5The bacterial cell peeling component 44 is used to peel off the bacterial cells attached to the surface of the solid carrier when the carrier support assembly 2 is in the first position. In this application, the bacterial cell peeling component 44 includes a plurality of elastic rods 441 and a plurality of bristles 442. The elastic rods 441 are spaced apart along the peripheral wall of the second rotation axis 43, and the bristles 442 are spaced apart along the peripheral wall of the second rotation axis 43. The elastic rods 441 and bristles 442 can be arranged alternately or in layers. The elastic rods 441 are made of flexible material and have a certain elastic deformation capability. During the process of the bacterial cell peeling component 44 moving downward with the first mounting plate 42 and sealing the upper opening of the culture tube 21, the elastic rods 441 will undergo elastic deformation after contacting the solid carrier, avoiding hard compression and breakage of the solid carrier, protecting the structural integrity of the solid carrier, and facilitating the recycling of the carrier. When the second rotating shaft 43 drives the bacterial cell peeling component 44 to rotate, the elastic rod 441 undergoes elastic deformation under the action of centrifugal force and carrier resistance. This allows it to penetrate the gaps between carrier particles and tumble the carrier, causing the carrier accumulated at the bottom layer to be moved to the top layer. This compensates for the limitation of the brush bristles 442, which can only clean the surface and cannot tumble the underlying carrier. Simultaneously, as the brush bristles 442 rotate with the second rotating shaft 43, they brush the carrier surface, removing the bacterial film adhering to the carrier surface. The synergistic effect of the elastic rod 441 and the brush bristles 442 ensures both thorough tumbling and uniform treatment of the carrier particles and efficient peeling of the bacterial cells.

[0033] Reference Figure 2 and Figure 3 The pulverizer 45 is used to pulverize the solid carrier with attached bacteria when the carrier support assembly 2 is in the first position, to obtain a mixed powder product of carrier and bacteria. In this application, the pulverizer 45 is a pulverizer blade assembly 451, which includes multiple blades spaced apart along the circumferential wall of the second rotating shaft 43. As the pulverizer 45 moves downward with the first mounting plate 42, the bottom edge of the blades of the pulverizer blade assembly 451 first contacts the solid carrier, using the pressure of the mounting plate to pre-crush part of the carrier. When the second rotating shaft 43 drives the pulverizer 45 to rotate at high speed, the side edges of the blades apply shearing and impact to the carrier, crushing the carrier and the bacteria attached to it into powder. The combination of downward crushing by the pulverizer blade assembly 451 and rotary pulverization reduces the load of rotary pulverization and improves pulverization efficiency, ensuring that the carrier and bacteria are fully pulverized and uniformly mixed to obtain a solid composite bacterial agent product that can be used directly.

[0034] Reference Figure 2 , Figure 3 and Figure 6To improve the production efficiency of a single batch of microbial agent and achieve parallel propagation of multiple strains, multiple culture tubes 21 are provided, and each culture tube 21 is evenly distributed circumferentially along the first rotation axis 41. Correspondingly, multiple second partition plates 15 are provided in the culture chamber 12. The second partition plates 15 are located below the first partition plate 11, and each second partition plate 15 extends radially from the center of the culture chamber 12 to the outer wall, dividing the culture chamber 12 into multiple non-communicating fan-shaped cavities 151. Each fan-shaped cavity 151 corresponds to one culture tube 21, so that each culture tube 21, after descending to the second position, is independently located in a closed fan-shaped cavity 151.

[0035] Based on the above structure, multiple culture tubes 21 can be loaded with the same or different solid carriers and bacterial strains, and each can independently undergo propagation operations. Each culture tube 21 is independently controlled for lifting and lowering by its corresponding lifting drive 22, without interference. After loading, each culture tube 21 can descend to the second position synchronously or in stages as needed, entering its corresponding sector-shaped cavity 151. The culture medium, gas, and temperature conditions within each sector-shaped cavity 151 are supplied by the propagation control component 3. The sector-shaped cavities 151 are isolated from each other by a second partition plate 15, ensuring that microorganisms in different culture tubes 21 do not cross-contaminate, and avoiding potential antagonism or competition between different bacterial strains. During the propagation process, the microorganisms in different culture tubes 21 may have different propagation cycles due to differences in bacterial characteristics, carrier type, or initial inoculum amount. When the bacterial cell concentration or activity requirement is reached in a particular culture tube 21, that culture tube 21 can independently rise to the first position and enter the processing chamber 13 for bacterial cell separation. Meanwhile, the remaining culture tubes 21 that have not yet completed propagation continue to be cultured in the culture chamber 12, without waiting for all culture tubes 21 to complete synchronously. This independent lifting and lowering design ensures that the propagation progress of each culture tube 21 is not mutually restrictive, effectively shortening the batch production cycle and improving equipment utilization and production flexibility.

[0036] Reference Figure 1 , Figure 2 and Figure 4 To enable rapid replacement of the solid carrier within the culture tube 21, the first partition plate 11 is rotatably connected to the tank body 1, and its rotation axis coincides with the axis of the first rotation shaft 41. The carrier support assembly 2 also includes a fixed shaft 23 and multiple connecting rods 24. A discharge port 16 is provided on the side wall of the tank body 1, and an automatic door 161 is provided at the discharge port 16.

[0037] A fixed shaft 23 is coaxially disposed above the first partition plate 11 and fixedly connected to the first partition plate 11, rotating synchronously with the first partition plate 11. A connecting rod 24 corresponds one-to-one with each culture tube 21. The first end of each connecting rod 24 is connected to the fixed shaft 23 in a vertically slidable manner, and the second end is fixedly connected to the corresponding culture tube 21. The connecting rod 24 is configured to extend and retract radially along the tank body 1, thereby moving the culture tube 21 closer to or further away from the fixed shaft 23. In this application, the connecting rod 24 is an electric cylinder, moving up and down on the fixed shaft 23 via a lifting drive component 22. A discharge port 16 is provided on the side wall of the tank body 1, located in the area where the processing chamber 13 is located. An automatic door 161 is provided at the discharge port 16. The automatic door 161 can be opened or closed, opening during discharge to allow the culture tube 21 to extend, and closing during non-discharge to maintain a sealed environment in the processing chamber 13.

[0038] Based on the above structure, when the solid carrier in a culture tube 21 needs to be replaced, the connecting rod 24 corresponding to that culture tube 21 slides upward along the fixed shaft 23, causing the culture tube 21 to rise until the lower end of the culture tube 21 is completely separated from the upper port of the sealing tube 14, that is, the entire culture tube 21 is located above the sealing tube 14. At this time, the peripheral wall of the culture tube 21 is released from the sliding contact with the inner wall of the sealing tube 14, and the culture tube 21 gains the freedom to move radially along the tank body 1. Subsequently, the first partition plate 11 rotates, and the fixed shaft 23 and each connecting rod 24 rotate synchronously with the first partition plate 11, causing the culture tube 21 that needs to be discharged to move circumferentially until the culture tube 21 is aligned with the position of the discharge port 16. At this time, the automatic door 161 opens, the connecting rod 24 extends radially along the tank body 1, and pushes the culture tube 21 through the discharge port 16 to extend out of the tank body 1, so that the operator or the automatic discharge device can remove the waste carrier in the culture tube 21. After the material discharge is completed, the connecting rod 24 retracts, pulling the culture tube 21 back into the tank 1, and the automatic door 161 closes. The operator or the automatic feeding device then refills the culture tube 21 with new solid carriers and inoculum. Subsequently, the first partition plate 11 rotates again, sending the culture tube 21 back above its corresponding fan-shaped cavity 151. The connecting rod 24 slides downward along the fixed shaft 23, and the culture tube 21 re-enters the sealed tube 14 and descends to the second position, beginning a new round of propagation.

[0039] The discharge structure achieves directional discharge of the culture tube 21 through the synchronous rotation of the first partition plate 11 and the fixed shaft 23, and the telescopic cooperation of the connecting rod 24. Before discharge, the culture tube 21 rises to break free from the constraint of the sealing tube 14, ensuring its smooth radial extension; after discharge and retraction into the tank 1, it re-enters the sealing tube 14, restoring the sealing relationship between the chambers. Each culture tube 21 can independently complete discharge and reloading without interference. When the propagation effect of a certain culture tube 21 is poor or the carrier has been used multiple times and needs to be replaced, the culture tube 21 can be removed individually for discharge and reloading. The automatic door 161 at the discharge port 16 ensures the sealing of the processing chamber 13 when not discharging, preventing external contaminants from entering, and automatically opens during discharge, ensuring smooth and automated discharge operation, further improving the flexibility and continuous operation capability of the equipment.

[0040] To achieve controlled contact between different bacterial species during propagation, and to prepare compound bacterial agents online or improve the environmental adaptability of single bacterial species, the second partition plates 15 are radially distributed and converge at the center of the culture chamber 12 to form a convergence zone. A mixing port 152 connecting adjacent fan-shaped cavities 151 is provided in the convergence zone, and a vertically movable sealing plate 153 is provided at the mixing port 152. The sealing plate 153 is configured to close or open the mixing port 152. When the sealing plate 153 closes the mixing port 152, the fan-shaped cavities 151 remain disconnected, and the microorganisms in each culture tube 21 propagate independently. When the sealing plate 153 opens the mixing port 152, the culture solutions in adjacent fan-shaped cavities 151 come into contact with each other through the mixing port 152, allowing different bacterial species propagating in different culture tubes 21 to meet and interact in the culture solution.

[0041] Based on the above structure, the mixing port 152 and the sealing plate 153 are used in the following manner: In the initial stage of propagation or when pure bacterial culture is required, the sealing plate 153 is closed, sealing the mixing port 152. Each sector-shaped cavity 151 is isolated from each other, and the target bacterial species in each culture tube 21 propagates independently in their respective culture environments, ensuring that the purity of the bacterial species is not interfered with by other bacterial species. When the bacterial cells in each culture tube 21 have propagated to a certain concentration, and it is necessary to prepare a compound bacterial agent or to improve the environmental adaptability of the bacterial cells through cross-induction between bacterial species, the sealing plate 153 moves upward to open the mixing port 152. At this time, the culture medium in adjacent sector-shaped cavities 151 flows through the opening, and different bacterial species propagating in different culture tubes 21 come into contact with each other as the culture medium flows. During the contact process, some bacterial species may produce synergistic effects or exchange metabolites, prompting each bacterial species to secrete more extracellular polymers or inducing the production of tolerance enzyme systems, thereby improving the overall adaptability and treatment effect of the compound bacterial community to complex polluted environments. After the predetermined contact time is reached, the sealing plate 153 moves downward to reseal the mixing port 152, each sector cavity 151 returns to its independent state, and each culture tube 21 can rise independently to the processing chamber 13 for bacterial separation processing.

[0042] This structure allows for switching between single-strain propagation and multi-strain compounding processes within the same equipment through the simple lifting and lowering action of the sealing plate 153, eliminating the need for additional mixing tanks or transfer pipelines. This ensures the purity requirements of each strain during its independent propagation stage while providing flexible options for online cross-induction between strains and the preparation of compound inoculants, significantly enriching the equipment's process adaptability and product diversity.

[0043] On the other hand, this application discloses a production process for microbial agents used in environmental remediation.

[0044] A production process for a microbial agent for environmental remediation includes the following steps: Propagation preparation: Load the solid carrier into the culture tube 21, move the carrier support component 2 to the second position, so that the culture tube 21 is in the culture chamber 12 and the clearance hole 111 is blocked; Propagation and cultivation: Culture medium and gas are introduced into the culture chamber 12 through the propagation and control component 3 and the temperature is controlled so that microorganisms attach to and propagate on the solid carrier, forming a carrier with attached bacterial cells. Transfer steps: After propagation is completed, move the carrier support assembly 2 to the first position so that the culture tube 21 is placed in the processing chamber 13 and the clearance hole 111 is sealed. Cell separation: The cell separation component 4 acts on the solid carrier to separate the amplified cells from the solid carrier and obtain the bacterial agent product.

[0045] Unless otherwise defined, the technical or scientific terms used in this application shall have the ordinary meaning understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this application pertains. The terms "first," "second," "third," and similar words used in this application specification and claims do not indicate any order, quantity, or importance, but are merely used to distinguish different components. The terms "a" or "an," and similar words do not indicate a quantity limitation, but rather indicate the presence of at least one. The terms "comprising," "including," and similar words mean that the elements or objects preceding "comprising" or "including" encompass the elements or objects listed following "comprising" or "including" and their equivalents, but do not exclude other elements or objects. "Above," "below," "left," "right," etc., are used only to indicate relative positional relationships; when the absolute position of the described object changes, the relative positional relationship may also change accordingly.

[0046] The above are all preferred embodiments of this application, and are not intended to limit the scope of protection of this application. Therefore, all equivalent changes made in accordance with the structure, shape and principle of this application should be covered within the scope of protection of this application.

Claims

1. A propagation device for microbial agents used in environmental remediation, characterized in that, include: The tank (1) has its inner cavity divided into a lower culture chamber (12) and an upper processing chamber (13) by a first partition plate (11); The carrier support assembly (2) is installed in the tank (1) in a liftable manner to support the solid carrier for microbial attachment; the carrier support assembly (2) has a first position that rises into the processing chamber (13) and a second position that descends into the culture chamber (12); The propagation control component (3) is installed in the culture chamber (12) to maintain the microbial propagation environment in the culture chamber (12); The bacterial cell separation component (4) is installed in the processing chamber (13) and is used to separate the proliferated bacterial cells from the solid carrier when the carrier support component (2) is in the first position.

2. The propagation equipment for microbial agents used in environmental remediation according to claim 1, characterized in that, The carrier support component (2) includes: The culture tube (21) is vertically installed inside the tank (1), and a plurality of through holes (211) for the culture medium to flow through are opened in the middle of its tube wall. Each of its first and second ends is provided with an openable and closable end cap (212). The first partition plate (11) has a clearance hole (111) for the culture tube (21) to pass through. The peripheral wall of the culture tube (21) and / or the end cap (212) are configured to block the clearance hole (111) when the carrier support assembly (2) is in the first position or the second position, so as to isolate the culture chamber (12) from the processing chamber (13). A lifting drive (22) is disposed in the tank (1) for driving the culture tube (21) to rise and fall, so that the carrier support assembly (2) switches between the first position and the second position.

3. The propagation equipment for microbial agents used in environmental remediation according to claim 2, characterized in that, The culture tube (21) has multiple first air inlets (213) on its inner wall, and the first air inlets (213) are connected to an external air source through a pipeline.

4. The propagation equipment for microbial agents used in environmental remediation according to claim 3, characterized in that, The first partition plate (11) is provided with a sealing tube (14), which is coaxially disposed at the clearance hole (111) and extends upward. The outer wall surface of the culture tube (21) slides and fits against the inner wall surface of the sealing tube (14) to seal the gap between the culture tube (21) and the first partition plate (11).

5. The propagation equipment for microbial agents used in environmental remediation according to claim 4, characterized in that, The bacterial cell separation component (4) includes: The first rotating shaft (41) is vertically arranged in the processing chamber (13) and rotatably connected to the tank (1); Two first mounting discs (42) are circumferentially spaced along the first rotating shaft (41), and each first mounting disc (42) is connected to the first rotating shaft (41) in a manner that allows it to slide axially along the first rotating shaft (41); the first mounting disc (42) is configured to be movable directly above the culture tube (21) and to seal its upper opening; each first mounting disc (42) is provided with an exhaust hole (421) and a collection hole (422), and the exhaust hole (421) and the collection hole (422) both penetrate the first mounting disc (42); Two second rotating shafts (43) are respectively corresponding to one of the first mounting plates (42). Each second rotating shaft (43) is rotatably connected to the lower part of the corresponding first mounting plate (42). A first gas channel (431) is provided in the second rotating shaft (43). The air inlet end of the first gas channel (431) is connected to an external gas source. A bacterial peeling component (44) is mounted on one of the second rotating shafts (43) for peeling off bacterial cells attached to a carrier; The pulverizer (45) is mounted on another second rotating shaft (43) for pulverizing the carrier with attached bacteria.

6. The propagation equipment for microbial agents used in environmental remediation according to claim 5, characterized in that, The culture tubes (21) are provided in multiple ways, and each culture tube (21) is distributed circumferentially along the first rotation axis (41); the culture chamber (12) is provided with multiple second partition plates (15), the second partition plates (15) are located below the first partition plate (11), and divide the culture chamber (12) into multiple non-communicating fan-shaped cavities (151), each of the fan-shaped cavities (151) corresponding to one culture tube (21).

7. The propagation equipment for microbial agents used in environmental remediation according to claim 6, characterized in that, The first partition plate (11) is rotatably connected to the tank body (1), and its rotation axis coincides with the axis of the first rotation shaft (41); The carrier support component (2) also includes: A fixed shaft (23) is coaxially fixed above the first partition plate (11); Multiple connecting rods (24) correspond one-to-one with each of the culture tubes (21); the first end of each connecting rod (24) is connected to the fixed shaft (23) in a way that it can slide vertically, and the lifting drive (22) drives the connecting rod (24) to slide up and down, and the second end is fixedly connected to the corresponding culture tube (21); the connecting rod (24) is configured to be able to extend and retract radially along the tank (1) to drive the culture tube (21) closer to or away from the fixed shaft (23); The tank (1) has a discharge port (16) on its side wall, and the discharge port (16) is located in the area of ​​the processing chamber (13).

8. The propagation equipment for microbial agents used in environmental remediation according to claim 7, characterized in that, Each of the second partition plates (15) is radially distributed and intersects with each other in the central area of ​​the culture chamber (12) to form a junction area. A mixing port (152) connecting the adjacent fan-shaped cavities (151) is provided on the junction area. A sealing plate (153) that can move in the vertical direction is provided at the mixing port (152). The sealing plate (153) is configured to close or open the mixing port (152) so that the culture medium in the adjacent fan-shaped cavities (151) comes into contact with each other when the mixing port (152) is opened.

9. A production process for a microbial agent for environmental remediation, characterized in that, Using the propagation device as described in any one of claims 2-8, the steps include: Propagation preparation: The solid carrier is loaded into the culture tube (21), and the carrier support component (2) is moved to the second position so that the culture tube (21) is in the culture chamber (12) and the clearance hole (111) is blocked. Propagation and cultivation: The culture medium and gas are introduced into the culture chamber (12) through the propagation and control component (3) and the temperature is controlled so that the microorganisms attach to and propagate on the solid carrier, forming a carrier with attached bacteria. Transfer steps: After propagation is completed, the carrier support assembly (2) is moved to the first position, so that the culture tube (21) is placed in the processing chamber (13) and the clearance hole (111) is blocked; Cell separation: The cell separation component (4) is applied to the solid carrier to separate the multiplied cells from the solid carrier and obtain the bacterial agent product.

Images