pH control in fermentation plants

Process Analytics - «Application Note»

Background
A typical batch fermentation process starts with sterilization to destroy completely all micro-organisms found in the reactor. The fermenter is heated up by injecting live steam or by means of steam coils set in the vessel. Holding the temperature at 121 °C (250 °F) for 30 minutes is usually adequate to destroy all living organisms in the mash.

As shown in figure 1, a heating/cooling jacket maintains the temperature of the fermenter. A fermentation cycle can be divided into two phases: the growth phase and the production phase. Initially during the growth phase, cells grow very slowly while adapting to the reactor environment. After the adaptation period, the cell culture grows exponentially, releasing enzymes as a byproduct of the metabolic process. During the production phase, the molecular products are formed through a series of chemical reactions catalyzed by the enzymes. For many fermentation processes, these two phases are concurrent…..

Please open the below pdf-file to read the entire «Application Note»!