Automated Measurement and Monitoring of Bioprocesses: Key Elements of the M3C Strategy - Measurement, Monitoring, Modelling, and Control of Bioprocesses - page 1

Automated Measurement and Monitoring
of Bioprocesses: Key Elements
of the M 3 C Strategy

Bernhard Sonnleitner

Abstract The state-of-routine monitoring items established in the bioprocess
industry as well as some important state-of-the-art methods are briefly described
and the potential pitfalls discussed. Among those are physical and chemical
variables such as temperature, pressure, weight, volume, mass and volumetric flow
rates, pH, redox potential, gas partial pressures in the liquid and molar fractions in
the gas phase, infrared spectral analysis of the liquid phase, and calorimetry over
an entire reactor. Classical as well as new optical versions are addressed. Biomass
and bio-activity monitoring (as opposed to ''measurement'') via turbidity, per-
mittivity, in situ microscopy, and fluorescence are critically analyzed. Some
new(er) instrumental analytical tools, interfaced to bioprocesses, are explained.
Among those are chromatographic methods, mass spectrometry, flow and
sequential injection analyses, field flow fractionation, capillary electrophoresis,
and flow cytometry. This chapter surveys the principles of monitoring rather than
compiling instruments.

Keywords Bio-activity Biomass Chemical variables Physical variables
Products Substrates

Contents

1 Introduction.......................................................................................................................... 2

2 State of Routine................................................................................................................... 4

2.1 Monitoring Physical Variables ................................................................................... 4

2.2 Monitoring Chemical Variables ................................................................................. 4

3 State-of-the-Art: Biomass, Substrates, and Products ......................................................... 9

3.1 Biomass ....................................................................................................................... 10

3.2 Bio-Activity ................................................................................................................ 13

B. Sonnleitner ( )

Institute for Chemistry and Biological Chemistry (ICBC),
Zurich University of Applied Sciences (ZHAW),
Einsiedlerstrasse 29, CH-8820 Waedenswil, Switzerland
e-mail: [e-mail]

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