A triphasic bioreactor for physico-chemically treating a gas is disclosed.
The triphasic bioreactor comprises a reaction chamber with a liquid and
biocatalysts in suspension in the liquid, for catalyzing a reaction
between the gas and the liquid to obtain a treated gas and a solution
containing a reaction product. A gas bubbling means is provided in the
reaction chamber for bubbling the gas to be treated into the liquid
thereby dissolving the gas into the liquid and increasing a pressure
inside the reaction chamber. The bioreactor further comprises a liquid
inlet in fluid communication with the reaction chamber for receiving the
liquid and filling the reaction chamber, a liquid outlet in fluid
communication with the reaction chamber for releasing the solution and a
gas outlet in fluid communication with the reaction chamber to release
the treated gas. The bioreactor further comprises a retention device to
retain the biocatalysts in the reaction chamber. The invention also
concerns a process using the triphasic bioreactor. The triphasic
bioreactor may advantageously be used for removing carbonic dioxide from
a CO.sub.2-containing gas.