Abstract: Described herein are methods for producing chemical products by anaerobically fermenting a particular biomass using anaerobic bacteria. Such chemical products include hydrogen and other gases, acetic acid and other volatile organic acids, solvents, solids, and salts of volatile organic acids.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are described for providing petri dishes of a culture medium in an oxygen-free manner. Empty petri dishes are supplied to a dispensing glove box chamber providing isolation from the ambient atmosphere, by communicably connecting to such dispensing chamber, another glove box chamber providing isolation from the ambient atmosphere containing the empty dishes. The dishes are sequentially transferred to the dispensing chamber where they are filled with autoclaved culture medium. The filled dishes are transferred to a third chamber (also communicably connected to the dispensing chamber) within which the culture medium can solidify. Once the third chamber is filled with dishes having culture medium it is disconnected from the dispensing chamber and replaced with a fourth chamber having a new batch of unfilled petri dishes.