Sartorius Univessel® Glass

The UniVessel® Glass is the industry-standard autoclavable stirred-tank bioreactor designed for use with the Biostat® range of controllers (B, B-DCU, and Qplus). It serves as a highly flexible and durable reaction vessel for both mammalian cell culture and microbial fermentation.

 

Design and Build Quality

• Borosilicate Glass: Constructed from high-quality, heat-resistant borosilicate glass to withstand repeated sterilization cycles in an autoclave.

• Stainless Steel Headplate: Features a 316L stainless steel headplate with multiple ports (typically 12 to 19 depending on size) for sensors, gassing, and feeding.

• Sterile Integrity: Designed with high-performance seals and O-rings to ensure a closed, sterile environment throughout long-term cultivations.

 

Range of Sizes

The UniVessel® Glass is available in four standard volumes to support various stages of process development:

• 1 L (0.4 L to 1 L working volume)

• 2 L (0.6 L to 2 L working volume)

• 5 L (1 L to 5 L working volume)

• 10 L (2 L to 10 L working volume)

 

Customizable Internals

The vessel can be reconfigured based on the specific requirements of the organism being cultured:

• Impeller Options:

  • Pitched-Blade: For low-shear mammalian and insect cell cultures.

  • Rushton Turbine: For high-oxygen transfer in microbial fermentation.

  • Three-Blade Segment: For specialized mixing requirements.

• Aeration Kits: Includes options for microspargers (fine bubbles for cell culture) or ring spargers (larger bubbles for high-airflow fermentation).

• Baffles: Removable stainless steel baffles to enhance mixing and prevent vortexing in high-speed applications.

 

Sensing and Port Integration

• Standard Probes: Compatible with 12 mm diameter pH, Dissolved Oxygen (DO), temperature, and foam/level sensors.

• Addition Ports: Multiple ports for acid, base, antifoam, and nutrient feeds via dip tubes.

• Sample System: Equipped with a dedicated sampling port (often using a needleless system) to maintain sterility during routine monitoring.

 

Thermal Management

• Heating: Typically managed via an external electric heating blanket tailored to the vessel size.

• Cooling: Uses an internal cooling finger or coil connected to a laboratory chiller or tap water to precisely maintain setpoint temperatures, especially during exothermic microbial growth.

 

Scalability

The UniVessel® Glass maintains a 1:2 height-to-diameter ratio, which is geometrically similar to larger-scale stainless steel and single-use bioreactors (up to 2,000 L). This ensures that mixing times, tip speeds, and oxygen transfer rates (kLa) remain predictable during scale-up.