Automatic antifoam control

Automatic antifoam control

Save both money and valuable bench space around the MINIFOR laboratory fermentor-bioreactor with the world smallest antifoam control system.

World smallest antifoam control system

LAMBDA MINIFOR laboratory bioreactor-fermenter can be equipped with a novel foam detector and control system (no expensive level sensors needed).

The world’s smallest antifoam control system consisting of miniature foam detector, ANTIFO and subminiature syringe pump, DOZITO.

Principle of LAMBDA automatic antifoam control

  • Presence of foam is detected by the measurement of increase in electrical conductivity
  • No need of an expensive antifoam probe
  • Simply two needles of the fermentor vessel are used as electrodes

The presence of foam in the reactor vessel is detected by measurement of the electrical conductivity. Foaming causes an increase of electrical conductivity. The electrical conductivity can be measured without any expensive antifoam probe. Instead of such an antifoam probe, two needles of the quadruple feeding/sampling port of the LAMBDA MINIFOR fermenter vessel are used as electrodes. As a consequence, no additional port needed for anti-foam detection.

ANTIFO: Foam detector


The antifoam detector/controller
Detects the presence of foam
Sends control signals to DOZITO
No additional port needed for the probe


The antifoam detector/controller ANTIFO uses only minimal space behind the fermentation vessel of the MINIFOR fermentor-bioreactor. It sends the impulsion to the subminiature syringe pump DOZITO, which adds a small amount of antifoam liquid into the fermentation vessel.

If the foam signal persists, a new portion of antifoam is added after twenty seconds. Particular care is taken to prevent an overdosing of the antifoam agent.

ANTIFO works either with the DOZITO miniature syringe pump or the LAMBDA peristaltic pumps.

DOZITO: Miniature syringe pump


Miniature Syringe Pump
Adds antifoam agent based on the received signals
Prevents overdosing of antifoam liquid
New motion principle
The DOZITO syringe pump is hardly larger than the syringe itself. A completely new motion principle is used in the DOZITO syringe pump (no motors, no electromagnets, no compressed gas and the like). The setup and use of the DOZITO syringe pump is very easy.

LAMBDA supplies the DOZITO mini-pump for controlled addition of antifoam liquid during fermentation in the MINIFOR laboratory fermentor/bioreactor system. The dispensing of the antifoam liquid can be set up from one drop to 15 drops in one step.

The DOZITO can also be used for the dosing of small repetitive amounts of other liquids (e.g. oils, adhesives, cements, glues etc.) in laboratory or industry applications. Since no compressed air is used, the volumetric control is much easier