Innovative Optical Glass Solution for Photocatalytic Bioreactor Prototype

 fused quartz biorecator glass
23. Januar 2025
Innovative Optical Glass Solution for Photocatalytic Bioreactor Prototype

CASE STUDY: Innovative Optical Glass Solution for Photocatalytic Bioreactor Prototype

About the Customer

A leading institution focused on interdisciplinary environmental research, the customer’s work covers areas such as water quality, marine ecosystems, renewable energy, and environmental policy. Their mission is to advance scientific knowledge and develop practical solutions for a sustainable future.   

The customer approached Goodfellow for a cutting-edge solution to develop a photocatalytic bioreactor prototype.

 

Industry: Biotechnology

Challenge

The customer faced several key challenges in sourcing optical glass sheets suitable for their photocatalytic bioreactor prototype:  

  • Optimal Light Transmission: The glass needed excellent transmission properties to maximize light penetration from LED arrays, crucial for the bioreactor's photocatalytic function    
  • High-Temperature Resistance: The material had to withstand repeated autoclave sterilization cycles at temperatures exceeding 120°C.   
  • Mechanical Integrity: Serving as the front seal of a hermetically sealed growth chamber, the glass required sufficient mechanical strength.

Solution

Goodfellow provided a comprehensive, customized solution to address these challenges and meet the customer’s requirements. 

How we helped: 

  • Extensive Inventory: 

    By partnering with Goodfellow, the customer accessed a vast inventory of high-quality technical glass products, including soda lime glass, borosilicate glass, and fused quartz. This selection also featured unique and hard-to-find materials, ensuring that both specifications and cost-effectiveness were considered.

  • Technical Expertise: 

    Goodfellow’s technical team provided in-depth guidance, considering critical parameters such as: 

    • Melting point
    • Impurities
    • Thermal shock resistance
    • Optical clarity and transmission properties
    • Chemical and corrosion resistance
    • Mechanical strength
    • Surface quality and finish

    The team supplied detailed information, ensuring the material could meet all the required specifications in order to facilitate the customer’s decision-making process.

  • Prototyping Support: 

    To streamline the development process, Goodfellow facilitated rapid prototyping by supplying small-scale samples for testing and iterative design improvements.

Results

This collaboration significantly improved the development process:

  • Optimized light transmission and enhanced bioreactor efficiency  

  • Improved reliability and longevity of bioreactor prototype

  • Accelerated development timeline 

  • Achieved a cost-effective solution

Goodfellow's partnership enabled the customer to identify and select the ideal material, streamline their design process, and ultimately propel their environmental research forward, contributing to the creation of sustainable solutions. 

Dr Aphrodite Tomou, Head of Technical 

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