A bioprocess is any process that uses complete living cells or their components (e.g., bacteria, enzymes, chloroplast) to obtain desired products. This process is commonly referred to as Fermentation.
stages of bioprocessing
The entire process can be divided in three stages.
Stage I : Upstream processing which involves preparation of liquid medium, separation of particulate and inhibitory chemicals from the medium, sterilization, air purification etc.
Upstream processes include selection of a microbial strain characterized by the ability to synthesize a specific product having the desired commercial value. This strain then is subjected to improvement protocols to maximize the ability of the strain to synthesize economical amounts of the product. Included in the upstream phase is the fermentation process itself which usually is carried out in large tanks known as fermenters or bioreactors. In addition to mechanical parts which provide proper conditions inside the tank such as aeration, cooling, agitation, etc., the tank is usually also equipped with complex sets of monitors and control devices in order to run the microbial growth and product synthesis under optimized conditions. The processing of the fermentation reactions inside the fermenter can be done using many modifications of engineering technologies. One of the most commonly used fermenter types is the stirred-tank fermenter which utilizes mechanical agitation principles, mainly using radial-flow impellers, during the fermentation process.
Stage II: Fermentation which involves the conversion of substrates to desired product with the help of biological agents such as microorganisms.
Techniques for large-scale production of microbial products. It must both provide an optimum environment for the microbial synthesis of the desired product and be economically feasible on a large scale. They can be divided into surface (emersion) and submersion techniques. The latter may be run in batch, fed batch, continuous reactors
In the surface techniques, the microorganisms are cultivated on the surface of a liquid or solid substrate. These techniques are very complicated and rarely used in industry
In the submersion processes, the microorganisms grow in a liquid medium. Except in traditional beer and wine fermentation, the medium is held in fermenters and stirred to obtain a homogeneous distribution of cells and medium. Most processes are aerobic, and for these the medium must be vigorously aerated. All important industrial processes (production of biomass and protein, antibiotics, enzymes and sewage treatment) are carried out by submersion processes.
Stage III: Downstream processing which involves separation of cells from the fermentation broth, purification and concentration of desired product and waste disposal or recycle.
Downstream processing, the various stages that follow the fermentation process, involves suitable techniques and methods for recovery, purification, and characterization of the desired fermentation product. A vast array of methods for downstream processing, such as centrifugation, filtration, and chromatography, may be applied. These methods vary according to the chemical and physical nature, as well as the desired grade, of the final product.
Stage I : Upstream processing which involves preparation of liquid medium, separation of particulate and inhibitory chemicals from the medium, sterilization, air purification etc.
Upstream processes include selection of a microbial strain characterized by the ability to synthesize a specific product having the desired commercial value. This strain then is subjected to improvement protocols to maximize the ability of the strain to synthesize economical amounts of the product. Included in the upstream phase is the fermentation process itself which usually is carried out in large tanks known as fermenters or bioreactors. In addition to mechanical parts which provide proper conditions inside the tank such as aeration, cooling, agitation, etc., the tank is usually also equipped with complex sets of monitors and control devices in order to run the microbial growth and product synthesis under optimized conditions. The processing of the fermentation reactions inside the fermenter can be done using many modifications of engineering technologies. One of the most commonly used fermenter types is the stirred-tank fermenter which utilizes mechanical agitation principles, mainly using radial-flow impellers, during the fermentation process.
Stage II: Fermentation which involves the conversion of substrates to desired product with the help of biological agents such as microorganisms.
Techniques for large-scale production of microbial products. It must both provide an optimum environment for the microbial synthesis of the desired product and be economically feasible on a large scale. They can be divided into surface (emersion) and submersion techniques. The latter may be run in batch, fed batch, continuous reactors
In the surface techniques, the microorganisms are cultivated on the surface of a liquid or solid substrate. These techniques are very complicated and rarely used in industry
In the submersion processes, the microorganisms grow in a liquid medium. Except in traditional beer and wine fermentation, the medium is held in fermenters and stirred to obtain a homogeneous distribution of cells and medium. Most processes are aerobic, and for these the medium must be vigorously aerated. All important industrial processes (production of biomass and protein, antibiotics, enzymes and sewage treatment) are carried out by submersion processes.
Stage III: Downstream processing which involves separation of cells from the fermentation broth, purification and concentration of desired product and waste disposal or recycle.
Downstream processing, the various stages that follow the fermentation process, involves suitable techniques and methods for recovery, purification, and characterization of the desired fermentation product. A vast array of methods for downstream processing, such as centrifugation, filtration, and chromatography, may be applied. These methods vary according to the chemical and physical nature, as well as the desired grade, of the final product.