Biotechnology dimensional analysis

With foams, sludge, and slimes often encountered in biotechnology, we are confronted with the problem of not being able to list the physical properties because they are still unknown and therefore cannot be quantified. This situation often leads to the opinion that dimensional analysis would fail in such cases. 

Dimensional analysis is a useful tool for examining complex engineering problems by grouping process variables into sets that can be analyzed separately. If appropriate parameters are identified, the number of experiments needed for process design can be reduced, and the results can be described in simple mathematical expressions. In addition, the application of dimensional analysis may facilitate the scale-up for selected biotechnology unit operations. A detailed description of dimensional analysis is reviewed by Zlokarnik [18]. 

Wilkins MR, Pasquali C, Appel RD, Ou K, Golaz O, Sanchez JC, Yan JX, Gooley AA, Hughes G, Humphery-Smith I, Williams KL, Hochstrasser DF. 1996. From proteins to proteomes Large scale protein identification by two-dimensional electrophoresis and amino acid analysis. Biotechnology (NY) 14 61-65. 

Washburn, M. R, Worters, D., Yates, J. R. (2001). Large-scale analysis of the yeast proteome by multi-dimensional protein identification technology. Nature Biotechnology, 19, 242-247. 

Leemhuis, H., Pijning, T., Dobruchowska, J.M., et al. (2013) Glucansucrases Three-dimensional structures, reactions, mechanism, a-glucan analysis and their implications in biotechnology and food applications. J Biotechnol 163, 250-272. 

---