Design and evaluation of control strategies for high cell density fermentations

A methodology for the design and evaluation of bioprocess control strategies is presented. The strategies manage nutrient supply with demand and vary with the metabolic condition and phase of fermentation operation. Six carbon source addition strategies are based on different combinations of available measurements; they are described and evaluated under different operating conditions for yeast cultivation. It is concluded that a single control strategy is not the most appropriate under all possible operating conditions. An oxygen uptake rate-based control strategy performs better with a mean respiratory quotient (RQ) value less than 1.1 during an oxygen limitation than an ethanol control strategy which had a mean RQ of 14. The designed strategies and an approach of applying the strategy that best matches fermentation conditions consistently enables achievement of high cell densities 78.7 g DCW/L and yields 0.50 g DCW/g glucose as the mean values for three fermentations.