Automated multiplexed chemostats system

For testing ecological theory, especially the link between biodiversity and ecosystem functionning, we needed microcosm system.
Chemostats provide stable and controlled environmental conditions for microbial growth over the long-term. They are perfectly suited for testing of microbial ecology theories.
Therefore, we designed an automated multiplexed system of lab-scale chemostats.
The feeding, the wasting and the degassing are automated.
The system has been tested in experiments in anaerobic digestion but it is versatile and may be used under other conditions, e.g. fermentation.

INRA, Laboratoire de Biotechnologie de l'Environnement, Narbonne, France