LARGE-SCALE CALORIMETRY AND BIOTECHNOLOGY

Heat dissipation in biotechnical processes is often a very conspicuous phenomenon in large scale bioreactors. These reactors could hence be considered as a form of calorimeter in that the heat dissipation rate could be measured without sophisticated probes or instrumentation. Such measurements are scarce in large scale fermenters, but literature exists on calorimetric measurements carried out in the laboratory under conditions closely resembling those maintained in industrial reactors. The calorimetric techniques used for such experiments are reviewed briefly, followed by a description of a few examples of the results obtained. Published reports are described which illustrate how the knowledge gained by such experiments could be applied to industrial bioprocesses in order to control the reactor, based on monitoring the heat dissipation rate of the culture.