5 L Bioreactor for Microbial Fermentations

Our innovative fully automated and autoclavable stirred tank bioreactor is designed for R&D and process development. It has a robust design, yet it is compact and ergonomic. The vessel is mounted between a jacketed base and a non-welded lid.

The uniform lid features all the necessary ports and sensors that might be required for bioprocesses.

There is a sterilisable sampling port conveniently located in the base of the vessel to facilitate operational activities during a process.

The magnetically coupled drive which can reach up to 1500 rpm ensures excellent sterility within the vessel.

The bioprocess controller ensures:

1) Temperature regulation by supplying a control signal either to the heating element or the electro-magnetic cooling water valve of the thermostat. Thermoregulation is carried out by circulation of

thermostated water through the bioreactor’s jacket, which is located in the bottom lid of the

vessel;

2) pH control by supplying base or acid solutions to the bioreactor medium using the

bioprocess controller’s peristaltic pumps;

3) pO₂ control by automatic adjustments of the stirrer’s rotational speed. The actual pO₂

value is monitored using a pO₂ electrode;

4) Foam control by supplying an antifoam agent to the bioreactor’s medium using the

bioprocess controller’s peristaltic pumps. The foam level is monitored using a conductivity

sensor;

5) Feeding of a substrate by using the bioprocess controller’s peristaltic pump and the

respective feeding rate/volume is controlled by the feeding profile, which is set in the bioprocess

controller;

6) Level control by using the bioprocess controller’s peristaltic pump. The medium level is

monitored using a conductivity sensor;

7) Mixing by using a magnetic drive, the agitator is driven by a motor which is mounted on the top lid of the bioreactor.

Optional SCADA software is available to control fermentation processes and store the process data. Additional sensors, balances and devices can be integrated in SCADA. The software can operate on a single PC, network or remotely via Internet and can control one or several bioreactors.

Our SCADA enables the possibility to communicate with MATLAB based program via OPC server. The MATLAB program ensures fed-batch automatic control by on-line comparison of mathematical model with process off-line data.

The SCADA software is developed according to the requirements of 21 CFR Part 11. The implication is that the process can be evaluated, reviewed, approved and archived without a single sheet of paper and without the possibility to falsify process data and signatures. Our SCADA software may be adapted to the special requirements of our customers upon request.