InnoCell Bioreactor
Open-source, DIY rotating disk bioreactor for high-yield bacterial cellulose production using SCOBY (Symbiotic Culture of Bacteria and Yeast). Achieves up to 20× higher output than static culture methods via optimized oxygenation through rotating perforated disks. Fabricated using accessible digital tools: 3D printing and laser cutting. Includes heating system and cloth cover for controlled fermentation. Developed for designers and researchers to mass-produce bacterial cellulose for art, design, and material prototyping applications. Fully documented and shared under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 license.
Caratteristiche principali
- 20× higher yield than static culture
- Open-source CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
- Build cost €150–300
- Adjustable rotation 5–25 RPM
- Biocompatible with bacterial cellulose production
- Replicable in fab-labs worldwide
Come funziona
Rotating disk bioreactor (RDB) system using perforated acrylic disks mounted on a motorized stainless steel shaft. Rotation speed adjustable (typically 5–25 RPM) to optimize oxygen transfer to the liquid-air interface where SCOBY grows. Disk spacing adjustable (10–35mm) to maximize surface area for bacterial cellulose attachment. Temperature maintained at ~28–30°C via integrated aquarium heater system. Cloth cover prevents contamination while allowing airflow. Complete build instructions provided using accessible fab-lab tools: 3D printer for structural parts, laser cutter for disks. Yield: up to 20× more bacterial cellulose per unit time compared to traditional static fermentation jars. Build cost: ~€150–300.
Impatto sulla sostenibilità
Static bacterial cellulose cultivation requires weeks and yields limited material, restricting design prototyping and research scalability. InnoCell democratizes high-yield BC production by providing open-source plans accessible to designers, artists, and researchers without specialized biotech facilities. Rotating disk oxygenation dramatically accelerates growth rates. Fabrication via common digital tools enables replication in fab-labs, makerspaces, and universities worldwide. Already validated by CARADT Material Incubator Lab and adopted by multiple research groups.
Ente capofila: Design Friction Lab, Free University of Bozen-Bolzano