Laboratory Fermenters & Bioreactors — 5 L, 10 L and 15 L
5 / 10 / 15 L • GLASS & 316L STAINLESS STEEL
Select a laboratory fermenter by working volume, organism, sterilization route and control needs. SJ Scientific offers made-to-order jacketed bioreactor configurations for microbial fermentation research and pharmaceutical process development.
Model overview and selection
| Model / material | Total volume | Working range* |
|---|---|---|
| SJ-FG-DJ-5L Borosilicate glass | 5 L | 1.5-3.5 L |
| SJ-FG-DJ-10L Borosilicate glass | 10 L | 3-7 L |
| SJ-FG-DJ-15L Borosilicate glass | 15 L | 4.5-10.5 L |
| SJ-FS-DJ-5L 316L stainless steel | 5 L | 1.5-3.5 L |
| SJ-FS-DJ-10L 316L stainless steel | 10 L | 3-7 L |
| SJ-FS-DJ-15L 316L stainless steel | 15 L | 4.5-10.5 L |
*Planning working ranges depend on mixing, aeration, foam and the organism. Model capacity refers to total vessel volume.
Made to order in Zhejiang, China. Request a quotation matched to your selected configuration, utilities and documentation needs. External utilities and optional upgrades are supplied only when specified. Planning lead time: 60 calendar days after technical and commercial approval; confirm before ordering. Proposed warranty: 12 months for manufacturing defects, subject to quotation terms.
Glass or stainless steel: which fermenter should you choose?
| Selection factor | Jacketed glass series | 316L stainless steel series |
|---|---|---|
| Culture visibility | Observe mixing, liquid level and foam through the vessel | Metal vessel; viewing arrangement is configured separately |
| Material | Borosilicate glass with 316L wetted metal fittings | 316L product-contact vessel with separate thermal jacket |
| Sterilization route | Approved removable assembly, off-line autoclave | Proposed manual SIP package; design and utilities must be agreed |
| Best-fit workflow | Screening, media optimization, teaching and visual process development | Repeated microbial development campaigns and configurable steam-sterilization workflows |
| Automation platform | 10-inch HMI, PLC, pH/DO and four pumps | 10-inch HMI, PLC, pH/DO and four pumps |
Functions and customer benefits
| Function / feature | What it does | Benefit to your workflow |
|---|---|---|
| 10-inch touchscreen + PLC | Centralizes process values, settings and operating commands. | Check the process from one interface and organize routine operation. |
| Water-jacket temperature control | Circulates a heating/cooling medium around the culture vessel. | Adjust culture temperature without a cooling coil occupying culture space. |
| Variable-speed agitation | Adjusts stirring within the selected drive and impeller range. | Tune mixing to culture volume, viscosity and oxygen-transfer needs. |
| pH monitoring and dosing | Measures pH and uses acid/base pump channels under agreed control logic. | Correct pH changes with less repeated manual addition. |
| Dissolved oxygen monitoring | Measures oxygen availability; agitation response is configured to the process. | Identify oxygen limitation and guide the control strategy. |
| Four peristaltic pumps | Provides acid, base, nutrient feed and antifoam channels. | Keeps addition duties separate and supports planned feeding. |
| Foam contact detection | Detects foam at a chosen height and triggers limited antifoam pulses. | Respond to foam without relying only on visual checks. |
| Air / oxygen gas channels | Indicates flow through manually adjusted rotameters. | Set the gas supply for each trial; automatic flow requires an MFC upgrade. |
| Exhaust condenser | Condenses part of the moisture in outgoing gas. | Helps reduce evaporation and moisture carry-over; sterile filtration is separate. |
| Rear-access sheet-metal cabinet | Places cabinet fasteners at the rear with clean front and side panels. | Provides an uncluttered operator-facing surface and an organized service layout. |
Optional automation and project upgrades
Multi-stage recipes can define temperature, pH, DO, agitation limits, feeding and stage-transition conditions. Automatic gas-flow / oxygen cascade requires the agreed MFC package. Data export, access roles, SCADA and qualification documentation are specified separately in the quotation. These options are not included automatically.
Applications in biotechnology and pharmaceutical research
Designed for laboratory microbial fermentation: bacterial and yeast culture, media optimization, enzyme production research, probiotic process development, recombinant microbial expression and training. Batch and fed-batch workflows are configured to the organism, feeding strategy and oxygen demand.
For pharmaceutical process development, send the URS and required documentation scope. Mammalian cell culture, high-viscosity broths and unusual solvents require a separate engineering review; a standard microbial package is not automatically suitable for every process.
From screening to a larger laboratory working volume
Choose 5 L for 1.5–3.5 L planning working volume, 10 L for 3–7 L, or 15 L for 4.5–10.5 L. Keep headspace for aeration and foam. A larger nominal vessel does not by itself guarantee better oxygen transfer: impellers, motor torque, gas delivery, culture viscosity and heat removal must be reviewed together.
Frequently asked questions
Does 10 L mean 10 L of culture?
No. Capacity identifies total vessel volume. The planning working ranges are 1.5-3.5 L, 3-7 L and 4.5-10.5 L for the 5 L, 10 L and 15 L models.
How is heat removed?
Cooling water circulates through the jacket. An external chiller may be needed when available water is too warm or the culture heat load is high.
What does the exhaust condenser do?
It helps condense moisture in the exhaust and reduce evaporation and carry-over. It does not replace the sterile exhaust filter.
Does the foam probe measure foam percentage?
No. The conductive probe detects contact at a chosen height. The PLC can apply limited antifoam pulses; this is a point-detection system.
Are all stainless models automatically SIP-ready?
No. Sterilization depends on the agreed vessel, pressure design, seals, valves, steam conditions and drainage. Automated SIP is a separate option.
Can the glass vessel be steam-sterilized in place?
Do not assume this. The proposed glass route is off-line autoclaving of approved components within their permitted cycle and pressure/temperature limits.
Are chiller, compressor and sterilizer included?
Only if separately listed in the quotation. The base equipment and external utilities are itemized so the quotation matches your site.
Can you support pharmaceutical or biotech projects?
Send your URS, organism and documentation needs. Qualification support and data-integrity functions are agreed separately; no blanket GMP or electronic-record compliance is claimed.
Information to include in your enquiry
Tell us the organism, total and working volume, batch or fed-batch process, broth viscosity, target temperature, aeration / oxygen demand, sterilization route, utilities, electrical supply, recipe and data requirements, delivery address and documentation scope. This lets us match the vessel, drive, probes, gas train and software to your process.