ONLINE MONITORING AND CONTROL OF FERMENTATION PROCESSES BY FLOW-INJECTION ANALYSIS

On line flow-injection analysis (FIA) systems were developed for the real-time measurement and control of concentrations of small molecules (i.e. MW < 500) in fermentation media. An on-line tangential flow filtration device was developed to provide a particle-free sample stream to the analyzers. Analysis of fermentation supernatant is problematic because it is a complex and variable sample matrix. Using FIA techniques, in-line sample pretreatment strategies have been implemented to eliminate specific interferences. Two examples, demonstrating the use of on-line FIA for monitoring acetate and for controlling phosphate in E. coli fermentations, are discussed.