Sensing bioreactor

Activities associated with bioreactors include gas/hquid contacting, on-hne sensing of concentrations, mixing, heat transfer, foam control, and feed of nutrients or reagents such as those for pH control. The workhorse of the fermentation industry is the conventional batch fermenter shown in Fig. 24-3. Not shown are ladder rungs inside the vessel, antifoam probe, antifoam system, and sensors (pH, dissolved oxygen, temperature, and the like). Note that coils may lie between baffles and the tank wall or connect to the top to minimize openings... 

Bioprocess Control An industrial fermenter is a fairly sophisticated device with control of temperature, aeration rate, and perhaps pH, concentration of dissolved oxygen, or some nutrient concentration. There has been a strong trend to automated data collection and analysis. Analog control is stiU very common, but when a computer is available for on-line data collec tion, it makes sense to use it for control as well. More elaborate measurements are performed with research bioreactors, but each new electrode or assay adds more work, additional costs, and potential headaches. Most of the functional relationships in biotechnology are nonlinear, but this may not hinder control when bioprocess operate over a narrow range of conditions. Furthermore, process control is far advanced beyond the days when the main tools for designing control systems were intended for linear systems. 

Bioreactors that use enzymes but not microbial cells could be regarded as fermentors in the broadest sense. Although their modes of operation are similar to those of microbial fermentors, fed-batch operation is seldom practiced for enzyme reactors. The basic equations for batch and continuous reactors for... 

Enzymatically coupled FETs have reached the stage of development where their application to practical sensing problems in various analytical fields is possible. Applications in the field of medical diagnostics are most frequent, although a few are used for the control of bioprocesses, for example, a fermentation bioreactor (12, 49). 

This section will discuss the general problems that arise in pilot plant, fermentation and scale-up. The section will focus on three main topics (i) bioreactors and culture techniques, (ii) the application of computer and sensing technologies to fermentation, and (Hi) the scale-up itself... 

Sterilized and introduced to a bioreactor or fermenter, is typically equipped with agitators, baffles, air spargers, and sensing devices for the control of the operating conditions. A pure strain of microorganisms is introduced into the vessel. The number of cells multiplies exponentially after a certain period of lag time and reaches a maximum cell concentration as the medium is depleted. The fermentation is then stopped and the contents are pumped out for the product recovery and purification. This process is operated either by batch or continuous mode. 

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