Efficient oxygen transfer by surface aeration in shaken cylindrical containers for mammalian cell cultivation at volumetric scales up to 1000 liters

Cylindrical containers agitated by orbital shaking are being developed as simple and cost-effective bioreactor systems for the cultivation of mammalian cells. Here the oxygen transfer capacities of containers with nominal volumes from 50 mL to 2000 L were determined, and the operating parameters influencing oxygen transfer were investigated. In general, the shaking speed necessary for efficient oxygen transfer diminished as the container size increased. At shaking speeds suitable for the growth of shear-sensitive cells, kLa values between 10 and 30 h−1 were typically achieved in small-scale (