The invention also refers to a method of the colonization of the carrier of biomass by microorganisms according to the invention, a method of fermentation of a fermentable substrate by living microorganisms in the fermentation industry, in particular in brewery, in the production of wine, vinegar and other fermented beverage in which the carrier of biomass according to the invention is colonized by microorganisms, and to a method of sanitation of the fermentation apparatus for carrying out the methods of fermentation.

The invention also relates to a device for fermentation of the substrates, in particular of the beer wort by one of the methods according to the invention, and also to a device for carrying out the sanitation by the method according to the invention.

Background art The technology of the microorganism cultivation in the form of a biofilm belongs to a cultivation group with what are known as fixed cells. This biotechnology has found application for instance in waste-water and city agglomeration water purification plants. As a rule, waste waters from industrial activities have a markedly heterogeneous composition due to the specific structure of the industrial production in question. In almost all cases, however, the waste waters contain organic substances, biogenetic elements, and anorganic substances. Among organic substances, albumens, fats, saccharides, hydrocarbons, tensides, organic acids, organic thinning agents, etc. may be present.

Depending on its type, waste water can contain also a not negligible quantity of wild microorganisms (up to 106 ml-') with high degradation potential which already during the waste-water transport to clarifying plants can partly degrade easily degradable and biologically usable substances. In the purifying plants themselves, these wild microorganisms can colonize suitable carriers of biomass and further take part in the intensification of the purifying process.

Outside the scope of the waste water purification lie microorganisms, this time noble and like the preceding ones living in biofilms on carriers of biomass, which find application in a number of industrial sectors. Here, the microorganisms are used on purpose for special biochemical productions.

The efficacy of a given technology of the use of microorganisms depends strongly on the conditions under which the microorganisms metabolize the usable sources of carbon and energy, and is in particular influence by the concentration of the biomass, i. e., of the complex of the microorganisms which, in its turn, is influence by the characteristics of the biomass carriers. As biomass carriers are used several materials such as wax plates, plates, configurations made of porous materials, wood shavings, softdust, slag, straw, fibrous PES materials, etc.

One of the ways of increasing the biomass concentration in aerobic and anaerobic systems is the use of special biomass carriers, either fully or partly fixed or freely floating in the substrate. The microorganism biofilm can be fixed to the surface of the biomass carrier or caught into the pores of a porous biomass carrier or fixed to a special biomass carrier and separated from its surrounding by a semi- permeable membrane.

The drawback of the up to now known biomass carriers consists in their limited ability to produce the initial biofilm. Another drawback of them consists in a relative small active surface of biomass so that a relative great quantity of the biomass carrier is required for obtaining the required output of the purification plant, i. e., either a great surface or a great volume of the biomass carrier. Another drawback of the existing biomass carrier consists in their high hydraulic resistance so that the microorganisms seated on them are relative easily floated out.

Well-known fermentation methods in the fermentation industry mostly do not use biomass carriers at all. The fermentation, for instance in the beer production, takes place in open fermentation recipients or in closed cylindrico-conical tanks under C02 pressure. DE 4430905 describes continuous beer production in which the completing stage of fermentation takes place on glass balls serving as yeast carrier. None of the well-known fermentation methods leads to any substantial reduction in the fermentation duration.

The invention aims to increase the efficacy, output, and financial efficiency of biotechnical processes used up to now by creating optimum life conditions for the growth and enzymatic activity of technically used microorganisms.

Principle of the invention The target of the technical solution has been reached by a biomass carrier made as a system of fibres mutually oriented in a defined manner, at least a part of which is arranged in loops and/or hair whose principle consists in that the fibres are made of a material suitable for microorganisms.

Thanks to the sum of the surfaces of the fibres, such biomass carrier has a large active surface for colonization by microorganisms and considerable capacity to hold large volume of biomass and reliably to permit its growth. At the same time, it reaches an increase in the active surface of biomass thus increasing the performance of the existing purifying or fermentation biotechnological devices without major costs. Thanks to the large active surface, this biomass carrier permits substantially to reduce both the surface and the volume of the device for achieving a given performance or also permits a heavier load on the technological process and the overall intensification of the biotechnological process in the existing devices. The operation of the biomass carrier is easy, and its intensification factors result in cuts of operation, maintenance, and investment costs.

To increase still more the surface of the biomass carrier for its colonization by microorganisms, at least a part of the fibres mutually oriented in a defined manner is preferably arranged in loops.

Research has shown that suitable for faultless function of the biomass carrier are natural fibres, metallurgical fibres, in particular glass fibres, and chemical fibres made both of natural and of synthetic polymers. The natural fibres and chemical fibres made of natural polymers, due to their relatively limited strength, are applicable to a limited extent only. Not all types of chemical fibres are suitable for faultless function of the biomass carrier. It means that some sorts and types are primarily poorly colonized by both prokaryotic and eukaryotic microorganisms thus forming a poor volume of biomass in biofilm on the biomass carrier and reducing the efficacy of the whole biotechnological process. In biomass carriers made of some chemical fibres, the microorganisms are easily washed out of the biomass carrier thus further reducing the efficacy of the biotechnological process. This effect is due to some additives added to the mass of chemical fibres in order to reduce their gloss. For this reason, it is advantageous to use glossy chemical fibres, free of matting means, in particular of those based on titanium dioxide (Ti02) contained in various proportions in some chemical fibres. For this reason, at least a part of the fibres of the system. of fibres mutually oriented in a defined manner of the biomass carrier consists of chemical fibres free of TiO2 Chemical fibres are fibres made from natural polymers, in particular on the cellulose basis, or are made as fibres made of synthetic polymers.

To improve the colonization of the biomass carrier by microorganisms, the fibres can be formed by air.

For technological reasons, the fibres are preferably made as endless fibres.

The system of fibres mutually oriented in a defined manner consists of three systems of threads made of the fibres, a first thread system being arranged in alternating loops forming the volume of the biomass carrier, a second thread system passing transversely through said first thread system, and a third system enveloping jointly the first and the second thread system.

Such biomass carrier substantially increases the capacity of microorganisms to produce the initial biofilm and to facilitate the access of nutrients and oxygen or of other acceptors of hydrogen and electrons to the active biomass. It also facilitates the draining of the biomass products or the venting of the gases in process of formation, has low hydraulic resistance with stable technological performance and considerable ability to adapt itself to organic, hydraulic, and temperature fluctuations. It also improves the sedimentation, and minimizes the quantity, of the arising sludge thus facilitating the desludging of the bioreactor.

Besides, it is able to retain harmful substances such as rests of crude oil substances.

It is advantageous for the stress resistance of the biomass carrier if at least the second thread system consists of very strong chemical fibres.

Due to the various shapes and arrangement of the containers housing the biomass carrier during the biotechnological process, the biomass carrier outer shape is variable, for instance as a linear structure such as a rope, or as a flat structure, or as a three-dimensional structure. Any of these structures can have any dimensions suitable to the requirements in question put on it.

The principle of the method of the colonization of the biomass carrier is given in the characterizing part of Claims 16 and 17, and the simplicity of the colonization is due especially to the fibre material, to the surface treatment, to the high articulation of the fibre surface, and to the electric forces between the microorganisms and the surface of the fibres the thread systems of the biomass carrier are made of.

The principle of the method of fermentation of a fermentable substrate of the biomass carrier colonized by microorganisms is described in the characterizing part of Claim 18. The advantage of such fermentation consists in its acceleration and intensification due to the constant stirring of the substrate by C02, by keeping the yeast in motion and by keeping uninterrupted contact of the surface of the biomass carrier with the substrate.

Claims 19 to 21 subsequently describe the principle of the fementation method according to the invention for a closed fermentation cycle, for a bioreactor adapted to be closed, and for an open fermentation cycle.

Since the biomass carrier colonized by microorganisms cannot be sanitated by usual chemical sanitation means, a method of sanitation has been developed whose principle is described in the characterizing part of Claim 22. This method ensures perfect sanitation of the whole fermentation system by known chemical sanitation means and a considerate sanitation of the bioreactor with the biomass carrier by means of hot water so that after the sanitation at least a part of the biomass carrier colonization remains and the biomass carrier is not damaged.

The principle of various embodiments of the device for carrying out the fermentation by the methods according to the invention on the colonized biomass carriers is described in the characterizing parts of Claims 23 to 28 out of which Claims 23 and 24 relate to the fermentation in a closed cycle/circuit, Claim 25, to the fermentation in an open cycle, and Claim 26, to the fermentation in a bioreactor adapted to be closed with a colonized biomass carrier.

The situating of the biomass carrier in the lower part of the bioreactor with free space around the walls permits better to stir the substrate with the carbon dioxide (C02) developing in process of fermentation.

The principle of the device for carrying out the sanitation is described in the characterizing parts of Claims 29 and 30 and consists in connecting a sanitation station comprising two sanitation liquids separated from each other and out of which one is made as a well-known sanitation means and the other as hot water at a temperature of 75 to 95 °C, the hot water serving to a considerate but sufficient sanitation of the bioreactor with the biomass carrier. In devices with a closed or open fermentation circuit, the bioreactor is fitted with a closable by-passing piping for by-passing the bioreactor during the sanitation of the device by the sanitation means.

Description of the drawings An example of embodiment of the device according to the invention, an accompanying graph, and a table are shown in the drawings in which Fig. 1 schematically shows an example of embodiment of a biomass carrier, Fig. 2 a device for the fermentation of a substrate with a closed fermentation cycle/circuit, Fig. 3 a device for the fermentation of a substrate with a closable bioreactor, Fig. 4 a device for the fermentation of a substrate with a closed fermentation cycle/circuit, Fig. 5 a photograph of threads of a biomass carrier colonized by yeast, Fig. 6 a detail of the photograph of a thread of the biomass carrier colonized by yeast, Fig.

8 a graph giving the comparison of the fermentation course with various technologies of beer fermentation, and Fig. 8 a table with a comparison of the fermentation course with the traditional fermentation technology, with fermentation in a cylindrico-conical tank, and with fermentation with the colonized biomass carrier according to the invention.

Examples of embodiment A biomass carrier 1 is made as a linear, flat or three-dimensional fibre structure, i. e., as a rope, a ribbon or a flat textile structure, or as a three- dimensional body. The fibre structure proper is made either of natural fibres or of a mixture of natural and chemical fibres made both of natural and of synthetic polymers, or is made of chemical fibres only. Each material component of the biomass carrier can consist either of identical fibres or of a mixture of fibres of various sorts, for instance of a mixture of a number of sorts of natural fibres, or of a mixture of a number of sorts of natural and chemical fibres, or of a mixture of various sorts of chemical fibres. It is also possible to provide for metallurgical fibres, in particular glass fibres, as at least one of the components.

The construction of the fibre structure proper ensures a large surface adapted to be colonized by microorganisms and to further their growth and proliferation, permitting both a sufficient supply of nutrients, oxygen or other acceptors of hydrogen and electrons to the microorganisms and an easy removal of the metabolism products. It also minimizes the creation of the liquid film which usually covers the biofilms of the microorganisms colonized on the biomass carriers in the bioreactors with low turbulence in the core of the streaming metabolized substrate.

Adapted to this purpose are fibre structures with fibres arranged in loop systems, with a relative (within a given range) stable shape and arrangement.

This means that such loop arrangements of the fibres can be in a suitable way fixed in relative stable mutual positions.

One of such suitable arrangements of the fibre structure is shown in Fig. 1.

The shown biomass carrier consists of three thread systems out of which a first system 11 creates loops 111 of the fibre structure producing the volume of the fibre structure. A second thread system 12 creates the basic thread inside the thread structure and passes transversely through said first thread system 11, as is shown in Fig. 1. A third system 13 contains wrapping thread for both the first 11 and the second 12 thread systems and thus ensures a more or less constant mutual position of the first thread system 11 in relation to the second thread system 12.

However, not any fibre is by its chemical composition suitable for being colonized by microorganisms. Experiments have shown that the colonization of the fibre surface in the biomass carrier 1 in creating sufficient initial biofilm depends on the fibre material which must not be adverse to the life and growth of the microorganisms. The production of the initial biofilm also depends on the presence of the positive surface charge of the fibre because the microorganisms have as a rule the negative charge so that it is the positive surface charge of the fibre that as a rule faclitates the colonization of the fibre by the microorganism. Another important parameter in producing the initial biofilm consists in the surface structure of the fibres: the more articulated fibre surface the larger it is and, besides, the better does it receive the colonizing microorganisms. The ability to produce the initial biofilm als depends on the treatment or also conditioning of the fibre in a manner influencing both the chemical and the mechanical properties of the fibre.

These conditions are complied with by natural fibres, metallurgical fibres (in particular glass fibres), and chemical fibres, both of natural and of synthetic polymers. However, the chemical fibres shall not be treated by matting means used to matt the surface of glossy chemical fibres because such matting means very adversely influence the microorganisms that at a later stage colonize the biomass carrier. This applies in particular to the matting means on the basis of TiO2. Thus, the chemical fibres to be used are the glossy ones. The chemical fibres made of synthetic polymers are in particular polyester, polyamide, polyaramide, polyvinyl, polyvinylidene, polyfluorethylene and polyolefin fibres and, in the first place, polypropylene fibres. The chemical fibres made of natural polymers are in particular those on the cellulose basis. For obtaining the required articulation, the chemical fibres can be shaped by air.

The following examples of the material composition of the biomass carrier 1 shown in Fig. 1 give a more detailed illustration of the use of the fibre types.

Example 1-production of the biomass carrier The biomass carrier 1 is made as a textile structure consisting of endless technical chemical fibres. The first thread system 11 is made of polyester fibre on the basis of polyethylene terephtalate, a glossy, very strong fibre shaped by air, without TiO2 treatment, type 568 dtex 1100/f200x4. The second thread system 12 is made from polyester fibre on the basis of polyethylene terephtalate, a glossy very strong fibre shaped by air, type 568 dtex 1100/f200x3 with a minimum relative strength of 7.3 cN. dtex'. The third thread system 13 is made of polyester fibre on the basis of polyethylene terephtalate shaped by air dtex 240x1. This biomass carrier 1 has positive surface charge and belongs to the aerobic or anaerobic bioreactors for the growth, proliferation and metabolism of microorganisms in a biofilm. One kilogram of this biomass carrier has a surface of about 55 m2 sable for the biomass growth, in other words, its specific surface is 55 m2/kg.

Example 2-production of the biomass carrier The biomass carrier 1 is made as a textile structure consisting of endless technical chemical fibres. The first thread system 11 is made of polyester fibre on the basis of polyethylene terephtalate, a glossy, very strong fibre shaped by air, without Ti02 treatment, type 558 dtex 1100/f200x4. The second thread system 12 is made from polyester fibre on the basis of polyethylene terephtalate, a glossy very strong fibre shaped by air, type 558 dtex 1100/f200x3 with a minimum relative strength of 7.3 cN. dtex'. The third thread system 13 is made from polyester fibre on the basis of polyethylene terephtalate shaped by air SLOTERA, type 750 PM dtex 400. This biomass carrier 1 has positive surface charge and belongs to the bioreactors for the growth of aerobic or anaerobic microorganisms. One kilogram of this biomass carrier has a surface of about 50 m2 usable for the biomass growth, in other words, its specific surface is 50 m2/kg.

Example 3-production of the biomass carrier The biomass carrier 1 is made as a textile structure consisting of three thread systems comprising chemical fibres. The first thread system 11 is made from glass silk dtex 680x5. The second thread system 12 is made from glass silk dtex 680x2 and of the silk PROLEN dtex 1000 x 1. The third thread system 13 is made from glass silk dtex 680 x 1. This biomass carrier 1 has positive surface charge and belongs to the bioreactors for the growth of aerobic and anaerobic microorganisms. Its specific surface usable for the biomass growth amounts to about 35m2/kg.

Example 4-production of the biomass carrier The biomass carrier 1 is made as a textile structure consisting of three systems of endless technical chemical fibres. The first thread system 11 is made from yarn produced of glossy regenerated cellulose of the type LYOCELL tex 100x4. The second thread system 12 is made of a glossy very strong polyester fibre on the basis of polyethylene terephtalate, shaped by air, type 558 dtex 1100/f200x3 with a minimum relative strength of 7.3 cN. dtex'. The third thread system 13 is made from polyester fibre on the basis of polyethylene terephtalate shaped by air SLOTERA, type 750 PM dtex 400. This biomass carrier 1 belongs to the bioreactors for the growth of aerobic or anaerobic microorganisms, and its specific surface is about 40 m2/kg.

This biomass carrier 1 is applicable in biotechnological processes, i. e., in cases where growth cultures such as microorganisms are used to ensure the biotechnological process, both in new devices and in the existing ones with the goal of intensification and increase in their performance parameters. Their use in the waste-water purifying plants shortens the time required to sufficiently reduce the concentration of substances containing carbon and nitrogen in the waste water. By its inert, linear, flat, or three-dimensionally arranged carrier material, this biomass carrier offers the possibility of creating, for instance in activation tanks, high biomass concentration with a minimum production of superfluous sludge. This biomass carrier 1 can be used in bioreactors or in biotechnological devices operating on the principle of both the aerobic and the anaerobic metabolism of noble or wild microorganisms. This biomass carrier also can be used as a carrier of immobilized microorganisms and/or enzymes for fermentation in the fermentation industry, in particular in brewery, in the production of wine, vinegar and other fermented kinds of beverage, as will be described further on.

The material, surface treatment, high degree of articulation, and the forces existing between the microorganisms and the surface of the fibres of the thread systems 11,12,13 of the biomass carrier 1 are made by support of the perfect colonization of the thread surface of the biomass carrier 1 by the fermenting single- cell microorganisms such as yeast, in one or more than one layer, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6. The sticking of the microorganisms to the surface of the biomass carrier 1 is supported by the high degree of the surface, by the value of the charge and by the mutual interlacing of the thread systems 11,12,13.

The colonization of the biomass carrier 1 is described in the following for the beer wort in the beer production in the examples 5,7,8, and for the wine must in the example 6. The colonization of the biomass carrier 1 takes 48 hours at most, and can be either stationary or of through-flow type.

During the fermentation process, for instance of the beer wort during beer production, the biomass carrier 1 is situated in a bioreactor 26. as is described in examples 5 to 8 and shown in Figs. 2,3,4. The beer wort streams around the yeast- colonized surface of all the systems 11,12,13 of the biomass carrier 1. During the fermentation, the yeast proliferates, and its particles situated farther from the thread surface of the biomass carrier 1 loosen and separate from the other ones. Due to the C02 generating during the fermentation, they move upwards thus stirring the fermented beer wort. The loosened yeast particles are kept at a distance from the bottom so that the whole surface of all three thread systems 11,12,13 of the biomass carrier 1 is uniformly surrounded by the streaming beer wort. During the fermentation, the thread surface of the biomass carrier 1 receives additional yeast particles so that even after the completion of one fermentation cycle it is colonized by yeast to an amount sufficient for starting another fermentation cycle. Such further fermentation cycle starts usually after the sanitation of the bioreactor 26 with the biomass carrier 1 or of the biomass carrier 1 itself with 75 to 95°C hot water for at least 30 minutes and after the sanitation of the other parts of the device with the well-known sanitation means as will be described in the examples of embodiment 5 to 8.

The method of fermentation according to the invention, in which the fermentation microorganisms such as yeast colonize the surface of the threads of the biomass carrier 1, with the fermented substrate such as beer wort in the beer production streaming around the thread surfaces of the biomass carrier 1, speeds up the fermentation from seven and more days in the fermentation tanks to two days (48 hours), depending in particular on the temperature of the substrate.

In the graph shown in Fig. 7, the well-known beer fermentation methods are compared with the fermentation method according to the invention. The comparison shows that at the same temperature the traditional method of fermentation in the fermentation tanks (graph F1) takes 7 days to complete the fermentation, the fermentation in a cylindrico-conical tank (under C02 pressure) (graph F2), 5 days, and the fermentation according to the invention, i. e., with the biomass carrier 1 whose surface is colonized by yeast (graph 3), 2 days. A more detailed comparison of all the three methods of fermentation is shown in Table 1, Fig. 8.

Examples of embodiment of the device for carrrying out the fermentation by means of the biomass carrier 1 colonized by living microorganisms and for accelerating and intensifying such fermentation in the fermentation industry, in particular in brewery, in the production of wine, vinegar and other kinds of fermentated beverage are shown in Figs. 2 to 4.

The device shown in Fig. 2 contains a supply 21 of a fermentable substrate such as beer wort, wine or fruit must in the wine production, wine for the production of vinegar, etc. The substrate is delivered to the substrate supply 21 in a well- known not illustrated way. The substrate supply 21 is connected to a supply piping 211 ending in a substrate tank 22. The outlet of the substrate tank 22 is via a three- way piping 231 of the fermentation circuit and a circulation piping 24 connected with a pump 25. The circulation pump 25 is via the circulation piping 24 and via a first by-pass three-way piping 232 connected with the input of the bioreactor 26 whose inner space houses a predetemined amount of the biomass carrier 1 colonized by microorganisms such as yeast or is intended to receive such colonization. The outlet of the bioreactor 26 is via a second by-pass three-way piping 233 and the circulation piping 24 connected with a bitter sludge remover 27 in which a remover 28 of scum and C02 is seated. Via a three-way desludging piping 234 and the circulation piping 24, the bitter sludge remover 27 is connected with the substrate tank 22, thus completing a closed fermentation circuit. Attached to the three-way. desludging piping 234 is a drain 241 of bitter sludge and foam, ending in a well-known way either in a drainage or in a not illustrated tank of bitter sludge and foam. The vent of the C02 from the foam separator 28 can be in a well- known not illustrated manner connected to the existing system of the C02 use in the operation. The upper part of the tank 22 has situated therein a washing head 29 connected by means of a supply sanitation piping 30 via a three-way sanitation piping 235 with a sanitation station 31 containing pumps and at least two sanitation liquids separated from each other one of which consists of well-known sanitation means comprising as a rule solutions of acids or of hydroxides, hereinafter referred to as, sanitation means", and the other of which consists of hot water with or without disinfection means in efficient concentration, for instance of a solution of potassium permanganate, hereinafter referred to as, hot water". The bitter sludge remover 27 also contains a washing head 29 connected by means of the supply sanitation piping 30 via the three-way sanitation piping 235 with the sanitation station 31. By means of an outlet sanitation piping 32, the sanitation station 31 is connected with the inlet three-way piping 231 of the fermentation circuit. The first by-pass three-way piping 232 and the second by-pass three-way piping 233 are interconnected by the by-pass 34 in which there is inserted a three-way drain piping 236 having connected to its free outlet a drain piping 33 for removing the substrate after the fermentation. The quantity and composition of the biomass carrier 1 as well as the shape and dimensions of the bioreactor 26 depend on the technological requirements of the fermentation.

Example 5-for fermentation on the device shown in Fig. 2 Before the start of the first fermentation cycle, the whole device is sanitated in a well-known way. Then 3000 m (about 15 kgs) of the biomass carrier 1 according to the invention with specific surface of 55 m2/kg made from polyester fibres, for instance according to Example 1, are put into the 10 hl bioreactor 26 and the bioreactor 26 with the biomass carrier 1 is for 30 minutes subject to sanitation by hot water of 75 to 95 °C led into the bioreactor 26 from the sanitation station 31 via the three-way sanitation piping 235, the washing head 29, and the circulation piping 24.

When the sanitation is completed, the bioreactor 26 gets cooled and then receives a suspension of 25 litres of brewery lower yeast suspended in the beer wort having 11 % (w/v) of dry substance. The colonization of the biomass carrier 1 with the yeast from said suspension takes 48 hours at room temperature whereupon the superfluous beer wort with that part of the yeast that has failed to colonize the biomass carrier 1 is let out through the drain piping 33. During the colonization of the biomass carrier 1, the temperature can vary between 0 and 30 °C. During the colonization of the biomass carrier 1 by the yeast, the substrate tank 22 gets filled with the beer wort, and the supply piping 211 of the substrate supply 21 gets closed. Depending on the technological requirements, the dry substance of the fermented substrate lies in the range between 1,0% (w/v) and 30% (w/v). In the next step, the three-way pipings 231,232,233,234 open in the direction of the circulation piping 24 and the pump 25 is activated so that the beer wort contained in the tank 22 circulates through the circulation piping 24 and, consequently, passes through the bioreactor 26, the bitter sludge remover 27, the foam separator 28 and the not illustated remover of CO2, returns to the tank 22 and is again led from it into the bioreactor 26. While passing through the bioreactor 26, the beer wort begins to ferment. At this stage C02 develops, stirs the fermenting beer wort and keeps the biomass carrier 1 in the fermenting beer wort at a distance from the bottom of the tank. At the same time, the beer wort carries set free particles of the yeast which pass into the substrate tank 22 in which the beer wort is due to this also fermented.

When the fermented beer wort passes through the bitter sludge remover 27, bitter sludge is separated in it in a well-known way while in the foam separator 28 there is in a well-known way separated the gaseous component, and the fermented beer wort is led into the substrate tank 22. The separated bitter sludge and the gaseous component are led through the drain 241 into the drainage or for further use. After 48 hours the fermentation cycle ends due to the reduction in the concentration of the fermentable substrate (the beer wort) to 2.8%, see the graph 3 in Fig. 8, the three-way pipings 232 and 236 are opened in the direction of the outlet piping 33, and the fermented beer wort is led through the outlet piping 33 for further processing, for instance for lagering (after-fermentation) in not shown lagering tanks.

The reduction in the concentration of the fermentable substrate is described for a specific case of beer production; for the fermentation of other substrates, another suitable value of the concentration reduction is to be chosen.

After completing a given number of fermentation cycles, the whole device is subject to sanitation. In its first stage, the flow through the bioreactor 26 gets closed and the device receives sanitation means driven into it from the sanitation station 31 and led through the supply sanitation piping 30 to the washing heads 29 situated in the bitter sludge remover 27 and in the tank 22. After passing through the bitter sludge remover 27, the sanitation means returns through a section of the circulation piping 24 to the second three-way by-pass piping 233 through which it gets into the by-pass 34, and via the drain three-way piping 236, the first by-pass three-way piping 232, a section of the circulation piping 24, the pump 25, and the inlet three- way piping 231 of the fermentation circuit flows into the drain sanitation piping 32 through which it returns to the sanitation station 31. This first stage of the sanitation is followed by the second stage consisting in the sanitation of the bioreactor 26 with the biomass carrier 1 for 30 minutes with water about 85 °C hot led from the sanitation station 31 through the inlet sanitation piping 30, the three-way sanitation piping 235, the bitter sludge remover 27, the circulation piping 24, and the second by-pass three-way piping 233 into the bioreactor 26, then through the circulation piping 24 via the first by-pass three-way piping 232, the pump 25, and the inlet three-way piping 231 of the fermentation circuit into the outlet sanitation piping 32 through which it gets back into the sanitation station 31. In this way, the bioreactor 26 gets rid of yeast and other microorganisms of poor physiological activity. After the completion of the sanitation, the device is ready to start another fermentation cycle, and this by running fresh beer wort into the bioreactor because a sufficient quantity of physiologically active yeast particles colonized on the surface of the biomass carrier 1 has remained. If the physiological activity of the yeast sinks below a predetermined level, new yeast suspended in the beer wort is added upon the sanitation completion, and the above described process of colonization of the biomass carrier 1 is restarted The bioreactor 26 can be used for the subsequent fermentation after 24 to 48 hours, depending on the chosen colonization method.

Example 6-for fermentation on the device shown in Fig. 2 The biomass carrier 1 of 500 m length (about 5 kgs) with specific surface of 35 m2/kg made from glass silk, for instance as described in Example 3, is put into the bioreactor 26 whose volume is 5 hl, and the bioreactor 26 with the biomass carrier 1 is sanitated by hot water like in Example 5. The sanitation of the other parts of the device is also carried out in the same way.

After the completion of the sanitation and cooling of the bioreactor 26 to 15 °C, the bioreactor 26 is given a suspension of 25 litres of noble wine yeast suspended in ten times diluted wine must for the concentration corresponding to 20% (w/v) of dry substance. The biomass carrier 1 colonization by wine yeast from said suspension takes place for 12 hours at 15 °C. The superfluous must with those wine yeast particles that have failed to colonize the surface of the biomass carrier 1 is then removed through the drain piping 33, and the bioreactor 26 is filled with fresh wine must.

The fermentation cycle proper lasts for 3 days (72 hours) at 10 °C in a way similar to that described in Example 5 for the beer wort fermentation.

The fermentation temperature is chosen between 0 and 40 °C depending on the fermentable substrate.

The device shown in Fig 3 is intended for low-volume fermentation in the fermentation industry such as in mini-breweries, and contains the bioreactor 26 fitted in its lower section by a detachable cone 261 to whose lower part there is connected an outlet three-way piping 237 of the tank. Connected with the other outlets of the three-way piping 237 are the outlet sanitation piping 32 and the outlet piping 33 serving at the same time as the substrate supply 21 for the fermentation into the bioreactor 26.

The outlet sanitation piping 32 is led into the sanitation station 31 of the same type as that shown in Fig. 2 and equipped with the supply sanitation piping 30 introduced into the upper part of the inner space of the bioreactor 26 where its end is made as the washing head 29.

The aperture created by the removal of the removable cone 261 serves to insert and to take out the biomass carrier 1 into/out of the inner space of the bioreactor 26. In the shown example of embodiment, the biomass carrier 1 is seated in a supporrting basket 263 situated inside, and adapted to be taken out of, the inner space of the bioreactor 26, through the aperture created in the lower part of the bioreactor 26 by the removal of the detachable cone 261. The supporting basket 263 is made for instance from stainless steel or plastic material and is fitted with a sufficient number of holes for letting pass the substrate and C02 during the fermentation.

To facilitate the insertion and taking out of the biomass carrier 1, the bioreactor 26 can be fitted with a manhole 262 shown in Fig. 3 in dash line.

Example 7-for fermentation on the device shown in Fig. 3 The bioreactor 26, as well as the pipings, is sanitated by well-known means.

After the completion of the sanitation, the supporting basket 263 is inserted into the lower part of the inner space of the bioreactor 26 through the hole created by the opening of the lower cone 261 or of the manhole 262. The supporting basket 263 contains 30 kgs of the biomass carrier 1 with the specific surface of 50 m2/kg made from polyester fibres, for instance of Example 2. After the insertion, the lower cone 261 or the manhole 262 is closed. The biomass carrier 1 is then sanitated for 30 minutes with 85 °C hot water led into the bioreactor 26 by the supply sanitation piping 30 from the sanitation station 31 whereupon the hot water from the bioreactor 26 is led away through the open outlet three-way piping 237 of the tank in the direction into the outlet sanitation piping 32 and into the sanitation station 31.

After the water has been let out, an amount of 200 litres of the suspension of brewery yeast in beer wort with 11% (w/v) of dry substance is led into the bioreactor 26 at a temperature of 25 °C through the drain piping 33 acting also as a substrate supply. Fresh beer wort is then introduced and fermentation process during which the biomass carrier 1 is spontaneously colonized takes place at the required technological temperature. This fermentation lasts approximately by one day more than the fermentation with already colonized biomass carrier 1 to be described further. Then, the outlet three-way piping 237 of the tank is opened, and the fermented beer wort is in a well-known way let out into the drain piping 33.

In the following fermentation cycle, non-fermented beer wort with 10% (w/v) of dry substance is introduced into the bioreactor 26 through the drain piping 33 serving also as substrate supply 21 via the outlet three-way piping 237, and the outlet three-way piping 237 gets closed. The following fermentation takes not more than 40 hours at 9 °C. During the fermentation C02 develops, stirs the beer wort and thus keeps it in continuous circulation throughout the fermentation period. When the fermentation is completed, the outlet three-way piping 237 is opened, and the fermented beer wort is in a well known way led through the drain piping into a not illustrated lagering tank and cooled to 0 °C whereupon the fermentation cycle is cyclically repeated with fresh beer wort. The sanitation of the device is made in the same way as in Example 5 but the biomass carrier 1 is taken out of the bioreactor 26 as a rule together with the supporting basket 263, and reintroduced after the completion of the sanitation whereupon it is sanitated by hot water as described above.

Example 8-for fermentation on the device shown in Fig. 3 After the sanitation by a sanitation means of the bioreactor 26 with 2 hl capacity, the detachable cone 261 is removed and the supporting basket 263 is put in. The supporting basket holds 9.5 kgs of the biomass carrier 1 with specific surface of 35moka made from glass silk, for instance as described in Example 3.

The bioreactor 26 with the biomass carrier 1 is sanitated for 30 minutes by 85 °C hot water, like in Example 7. After sanitation, the hot water is let out, the bioreactor 26 cooled to 25 °C and then filled with 200 litres of the suspension of brewery yeast in beer wort with 11 % (w/v) of dry substance. At a temperature of 10 to 15 °C, the colonization of the surface of the biomass carrier 1 with yeast takes place for 4 hours. After this time interval, beer wort with superfluous free yeast is let out of the bioreactor 26. fresh beer wort is put in, and the fermentation takes place like in Example 7. The bioreactor 26 is repeatedly used for fermenting large volumes of beer wort. Between the fermentation cycles, sanitation usually is carried out with sanitation means after the removal of the biomass carrier 1. After the end of this process, the biomass carrier 1 is reinserted and the bioreactor 26 sanitated by hot water.

The device shown in Fig. 4 serves chiefly for breweries with fermentation tanks where the fermentation has not yet been modernized by the application of cylindrico-conical tanks.

The shown device contains two tanks 22 in whose upper parts there is in a well-known way, via the three-way piping 212, introduced the end of the substrate supply 21, the substrate consisting of beer wort. Attached to the lower part of each tank 22 is the outlet three-way piping 237 of the tank which is by an auxiliary circulation piping 242 connected with the inlet three-way piping 231 of the fermentation circuit which is via the circulation piping 24 connected with the inlet of the tank 25 whose outlet is via the first by-pass three-way piping 232 and the circulation piping 24 connected with the inlet of the bioreactor 26 in whose inner space there is situated a predetermined amount of biomass carrier 1 intended to be colonized, or already colonized, by yeast. From the bioreactor 26 on, the circulation piping 24 leads to the fermentation tanks 35 into which it enters via the inlet three- way pipings 238 of the fermentation tanks 35.

Between the second by-pass three-way piping 233 of the bioreactor 26 and the fermentation tanks 35 there can be inserted into the circulation piping 24 the bitter sludge remover 27 fitted with the siudge drain 241 and with a not illustrated device for C02 vent.

The first by-pass three-way piping 232 and the second by-pass three-way piping 233 are interconnected by the by-pass 34 having inserted therein a drain three-way piping 236 which in this embodiment serves to supply and to remove the suspension of brewery yeast in beer wort intended to colonize the biomass carrier 1 before the fermentation start. The drain three-way piping 236 is followed by the drain piping 33.

The outlet three-way pipings 237 of the tanks 22 are by means of the outlet sanitation piping 32 connected with the sanitation station 31 connected with the supply sanitation piping 30 which, in its turn, is connected with the inlet three-way piping 238 of the last fermentation tank 35 and thus adapted to be connected with the circulation piping 24.

Inserted into the supply sanitation piping 30 is a sanitary three-way piping 235 whose third outlet is via an auxiliary supply sanitation piping 301 connected through an auxiliary sanitation three-way piping 2351 with the washing heads 29 situated in the upper part of the inner space of the tanks 22.

Before the beginning of the fermentation, the whole device is first in a well- known way subject to sanitation during which the sanitation means flows outside the bioreactor 26 through the by-pass 34 and then returns to the sanitation station 31 through the outlet sanitation piping 32. The completion of the sanitation of the device is followed by the sanitation of the bioreactor 26 with the biomass carrier 1 by hot water like in Examples 5 to 8, or by hot water with disinfection means. When completed, a suitable, i. e., corresponding to the tank capacity, amount of brewery yeast suspension in beer wort is introduced into the bioreactor 26 via the drain piping 33, the outlet three-way piping 236, the by-pass 34, the first by-pass three- way piping 232 and a section of the circulation piping 24, thus starting the colonization of the surface of the biomass carrier 1 with yeast taking not more than 48 hours depending in particular on the above described properties of fibres of the systems 11,12,13 of the threads of the biomass carrier 1. When the colonization of the surface of the biomass carrier 1 with the yeast has been completed the beer wort with superfluous free yeast partricles is let out through the same way into the drain piping 33.

In the meantime, at least one of the tanks 22 has been filled with fresh beer wort The fermentation begins after the opening of the outlet three-way piping 237 of one of the tanks 22 out of which non-fermented beer wort flows to the inlet three- way piping 231 of the fermentation circuit which is open in the direction of the pump 25 through which the beer wort is at a small speed pressed out through the circulation piping 24 and the first by-pass three-way piping 232 into the bioreactor 26 in whose inner space it streams around the surface of the biomass carrier 1 colonized by yeast. In the bioreactor 26, beer wort begins to ferment, and the developing C02 stirs the fermenting beer wort and thus keeps the biomass carrier 1 at a distance from the tank bottom so that its surface is at all times in contact with the beer wort. While passing through the bioreactor 26, the beer wort is partly fermented and at the same time it carries the yeast particles set free from the surface of the biomass carrier 1. After the passage through the bioreactor 26, the beer wort ferments of about 50 to 70%.

After the passage through the bioreactor 26, the beer wort comprising the loosened yeast particles is led away through the circulation piping 24 into one of the fermentation tanks 35 in which the fermentation process is completed. While moving in this path, it can pass through the bitter sludge remover 27 and the not illustrated device for C02 vent. The completion of the fermentation process in the fermentation tanks takes not more than three days.

After one of the tanks 22 has been emptied, the outlet three-way piping 237 of the other tank, in the meantime filled with fresh beer wort, opens, and not fermented beer wort from the second tank 22 is led to the inlet (supply) three-way piping 231. The emptied first tank is sanitated by sanitation means supplie from the sanitation station 31 through the supply sanitation piping 30 to the three-way sanitation piping 235 which opens in the direction of the auxiliary supply sanitation piping 301 through which the sanitation means flows to the auxiliary three-way sanitation piping 2351 open in the direction of the empty tank 22 into which it flows via the washing head 29. From the tank 22, the sanitation means flows through the outlet three-way piping 231 via the drain sanitation piping 32 into the sanitation station 31.

After 10 to 30 cycles, the whole device is subject to sanitation with sanitation means, and the bioreactor 26 with the biomass carrier 1, with hot water, as described above.