Abstract: The disclosed apparatus relates to the microbiological industry and can be used in the food and medical industries, as well as in agriculture for utilization of the waste and refuse of animal-breeding farms. The apparatus comprises a sealed vertically arranged vessel divided into a vertical row of sections by perforated partitions of two kinds mounted alternatingly height-wise of the vessel. Some of the partitions are made as discs arranged so that annular gaps remain between them and the vessel housing, while other partitions are in the form of flat rings; the annular gaps and the central openings of the flat rings serve as ducts for the passage of a nutrient medium into the underlying sections. Mounted above the perforated partitions are cylindrical shells serving as intermediate accumulators for the nutrient medium, and blade-type agitators adapted to urge the nutrient medium toward the annular gaps and central openings.

Abstract: An apparatus for cultivating microorganisms on a granular medium comprises a vertical cylindrical vessel with a top port for charging the seeded granular medium and a bottom port for discharging the culture. The vessel is separated, heightwise, into sections by horizontal partitions, each section being provided with a tube for letting in an aerating flow of air and a tube for letting out the flow with metabolites. Each partition is composite and made up of partially overlapping circular sectors with perforation in the form of slots.The sectors are provided with a means for shifting them so that when the medium is being charged into a section, all sectors form a solid plate, while, during discharge of the culture from the section, the sectors are shifted so that a free downward passage for the culture is provided.The sector shifting means is located under the partition, relative to the medium, and provides for shifting of the sectors in a horizontal plane.