NSF Award
9705608
This Small Business Technology Transfer Phase II project will develop in situ, steam sterilizable, amperometric sensors for bioreactor control in the pharmaceutical, food/beverage and fermentation industries. At this time, in situ sensors for bioprocessing applications are not commonly available. Glucose concentrations can change drastically within minutes in bioreactors. In situ real time monitoring will provide the missing tool for effective bioprocess control. In Phase I a prototype in situ sensor was shown to monitor reliably the glucose concentration in E. coli fermentations. Importanty, the sensor housing, consisting of a stainless steel holder and an autoclavable membrane, was demonstrated to be capable of monitoring sterility for severa1 days and was highly resistant to fouling. In Phase II, the sensor chemistry will be made robust, its structure and components manufacturable at low cost, its range of analyses expanded to include, in addition to glucose, lactate and glutamate. Moreover the sensor will be tested, in addition to E. coli fermentations, in fermentation of yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and Streptomyces, a mycelial organism. Membranes and monolithic, injection molded insert structure will be designed for high reliability and manufacturability. At the end of Phase II, prototype sensors for beta testing will be available for testing by the biotechnology industry.
