Optimizing fermentation control for B. licheniformis
Researchers: Ola Johnsson, Charlotta Johnsson, and Tore Hägglund
This project is performed in collaboration with Novozymes AS and Department of Chemical Engineering within the PICLU centre.
The project will focus on developing, improving and optimizing fermentation control strategies for the B. licheniformis fed batch processes. This process can produce vast amounts of protein but is sensitive to overdosing and process disturbances which lead to process variations and possibly crashed fermentations. There is thus a strong motivation for developing more robust control strategies for this process. The project aim is to develop a general method for finding optimal control strategies for various B. licheniformis production strains.
In addition to developing and evaluating bioprocess control strategies which can improve robustness and yield of specific B. licheniformis processes, it is also of interest that the developed methods are general enough to allow for implementation on various enzyme-producing processes utilising different B. licheniformis strains. This will require the identification of key physiological variables in the strains and an understanding of the interaction between these properties and the way the process is controlled.
Links
PICLU web page2013-01-16