Model based design of a biochemical cultivation process

Abstract

In this paper a simple design procedure is used to enhance the performance of a biotechnical cultivation process. A model supported approach is proposed. It starts with a simple classical process model obtained from literature data, which is used to design the first experiment. Then, the main procedure is an iteration of (i) improving the model making use of the deviations between the experimental data and the data predicted by the model, (ii) of designing the next experiment by determining the optimal control profiles from the current model, and (iii) of executing that designed experiment. Important for the success of the procedure is that the model development is oriented at the process performance. The procedure is demonstrated at the simple practical example of a laboratory-scale fed-batch cultivation of Escherichia coli.