On-line monitoring of bioreactions of Bacillus polymyxa and Klebsiella oxytoca by membrane introduction tandem mass spectrometry with flow injection analysis sampling

Abstract

Membrane introduction mass spectrometry with flow injection analysis sampling has been utilized for on-line monitoring of the major products and the volatile metabolites of fermentation of the Bacillus polymyxa and Klebsiella oxytoca organisms. A flow injection sampling system was used to rapidly deliver fermentation broth or an external standard to the mass spectrometer. Analyte introduction occurred via a direct insertion membrane probe in which the aqueous solutions flowed past a membrane located within the ion source of the mass spectrometer. For both organisms, concentrations of the liquid-phase products acetic acid, acetoin, 2,3-butanediol, and ethanol, were monitored as a function of time after permeation through the membrane and ionization by chemical ionization. Tandem mass spectrometry confirmed that these measurements were made without interference. Off-line gas chromatography was utilized to test the accuracy of these measurements, and excellent agreement was found. The use of tandem mass spectrometry has allowed the detection of additional compounds that were previously not known to be present in measurable amounts.