AIRLIFT BIOREACTOR FOR HARVESTING SPROUTS

摘要

A method and apparatus for harvesting large quantities of sprouts according to either a batch process or a continuous process. A bioreactor (10) includes a chamber (12) containing seeds/sprouts and a growing medium, such as water. The growing medium is sparged with a lifting fluid that prevents anaerobiosis, promotes germination of said seeds into sprouts, and prevents matting of the sprouts or seed hulls. The bioreactor (10) includes features for maintaining the sterility of the chamber (12) and for preventing contamination of the sprouts.