Technologies
We manage the process as a whole, not separate operations
The technological chain links the culture, the regime, control, biomass production and batch analytics. Scale-up begins only when the process is reproducible and documented.
Technological chain
We develop cultivation and monitoring technologies and photobioreactor solutions. Our results undergo patent assessment and rights registration. Information on applications and patents is published once their status is confirmed. Confidential parameter values, recipes and design solutions are not published.
- 1
Cultures and seed material
We work with documented cultures. For each culture we check its origin, purity and conditions of use before including it in a project.
Cultures on Petri dishes and in flasks - Culture identification
- Origin and an unbroken link to the source material
- Purity control
- Storage conditions for seed material
- Basis for use in a specific task
- 2
Regime development
We select conditions under which the culture consistently yields biomass with the target characteristics, and record them as a process version.
IllustrationSchematic image: microalgae cultures in laboratory glassware under a light panel. This is not a photo or a diagram of Laboratory 17 installations. - Growth medium
- Light and temperature
- Gas exchange
- Harvesting and replenishment
- Duration and end-of-process criteria
- 3
Process control
The process is controlled by measurement, not by eye. Deviations are recorded and linked to the protocol version.
- Scheduled sampling
- Optical measurements of culture density
- Analytical measurements
- Deviation log
- Protocol versions
- 4
Biomass production and preparation
Every biomass batch is linked to a batch number, a process version and preparation conditions.
Microalgae biomass before drying 
The laboratory's freeze dryer, just after delivery - Biomass harvesting
- Drying, including freeze-drying
- Packaging
- Storage conditions
- Batch number
- 5
Analytics
Parameters and methods are agreed in advance. A result always states the method, the laboratory and the limitations of the method.
- Agreed parameters
- Analytical methods
- Performing laboratory
- Primary data
- Result and method limitations
- 6
Reproducibility
The result of a single run is not yet a technology. We compare independent runs performed under the same process version.
- Independent runs
- One process version
- Comparison of batch passports
- Analysis of deviations
- 7
Scale-up
Transfer between laboratory, pilot and production configurations is verified separately, and the status of each level is labelled separately.
- Laboratory configuration
- Pilot configuration
- Production configuration
- Verification of regime and control transfer
Status system
How we label readiness
A single scale is used for technologies and results. The status “industrial technology” is not used until there is a confirmed process at the corresponding scale.
- Published result
- The result is published in a peer-reviewed journal or an open source
- Confirmed by a report or protocol
- The result is confirmed by a signed report or protocol
- Laboratory development
- The process or method is being worked out under laboratory conditions
- Pilot run
- The process is being tested in a pilot configuration
- Being prepared for scale-up
- The process is reproducible and transition to a larger scale is being prepared
- Concept or research direction
- The direction is defined; research is under way or planned
Let's discuss what process your task needs
Tell us about your raw material requirements and we will assess the route from a laboratory test to a pilot.