Chapter 22 - Monitoring of Fermentation and Biotechnological Processes

Abstract

Fermentation is one of the oldest methods of the food processing and preservation. In the industrial setting, real-time monitoring of the fermented media composition is of paramount importance for the effectiveness of the whole process. However, analytical instruments used for these processes’ monitoring remain relatively primitive. Lack of online sensors for fermentation monitoring is commonly stressed in the literature. One of the techniques particularly suitable for this purpose is the electronic tongue based on the chemical sensors. This chapter presents recent achievements in the applications of electronic tongues to the monitoring of the fermentation processes employed for the food production. Types of the electronic tongues used and types of analysis performed; that is, quantification of the components or process monitoring and fault detection are described. Applications to the model case studies and real processes used for the production of foods and food ingredients are covered.