Monday, May 4, 2009
11-12

Benefits of real-time analytical monitoring of fermentation processes during development, scale-up and production

Larry McDermott, Mark Koslin, Norman Wright, and Martha Ranc. Technical Applications, Hamilton Sundstrand - Applied Instrument Technologies, 2771 North Garey Avenue, Pomona, CA 91767

Advanced process analyzers including mass spectrometers, FTIR and FTNIR analyzers have been used to monitor fermentation processes in real-time to help gain a better understanding of reaction progress and kinetics during research, scale-up and production.  Mass spectrometers have been used to measure the input and output gases for the primary compounds in fermentation systems including nitrogen, oxygen and carbon dioxide.  The measurement of secondary compounds such as ethanol, methanol, acetic acid, ammonia, lactic acid, methane and argon are all also possible.  Mass spectrometers routinely make these measurements simultaneously with a virtually instantaneous response time.  Measurements have been made over a wide dynamic range for many of these compounds from concentrations in the ppb level through 100%. 

FTNIR and FTIR systems have been used to make measurements directly in the fermentation broth typically using direct insertion probes.  Real-time measurements of alcohol production, nutrient depletion and the formation of side-products and intermediates have been performed.  The determination of biomass, glucose, lactic acid and acetic acids during fermentation processes have been demonstrated using attenuated total reflectance probes.

Real-time monitoring of fermentation processes can be used to lead to a better understanding the effect of real-time changes to reaction systems.

Typical applications will be presented for fermentation systems including implementations in microbial fermentation, batch fermentation and continuous fermentation. 


See more of Poster Session 2/Reception
See more of The 31st Symposium on Biotechnology for Fuels and Chemicals (May 3-6, 2009)