Optimization of microorganisms growth processes

  • Authors:

  • M. Sbarciog;M. Loccufier;E. Noldus

  • Affiliations:

  • Department of Electrical Energy, Systems and Automation, Ghent University, Technologiepark 914, Zwijnaarde, Ghent, B-9052, Belgium;Department of Electrical Energy, Systems and Automation, Ghent University, Technologiepark 914, Zwijnaarde, Ghent, B-9052, Belgium;Department of Electrical Energy, Systems and Automation, Ghent University, Technologiepark 914, Zwijnaarde, Ghent, B-9052, Belgium

  • Venue:
  • Computer Methods and Programs in Biomedicine
  • Year:
  • 2011

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Abstract

Microorganisms growth processes are encountered in many biotechnological applications. For an increased economic benefit, optimizing their productivity is of great interest. Often the growth is inhibited by the presence in excess of other components. Inhibition determines the occurrence of multiple equilibrium points, which makes the optimal steady state reachable only from a small region of the system state space. Thus dynamic control is needed to drive the system from an initial state (characterized by a low concentration of microorganisms) to the optimal steady state. The strategy presented in this paper relies on the solutions of two optimization problems: the problem of optimal operation for maximum productivity in steady state (steady state optimization) and the problem of the start-up to the optimal steady state (transient optimization). Steady state optimization means determining the optimal equilibrium point (the amount of microorganisms harvested is maximum). The transient optimization is solved using the maximum principle of Pontryagin. The proposed control law, which drives the bioreactor from an initial state to the optimal steady state while maximizing the productivity, consists of switching the manipulated variable (dilution rate) from the minimum to the maximum value and then to the optimal value at well defined instants. This control law substantially increases the stability region of the optimal equilibrium point. Aside its efficiency, the strategy is also characterized by simplicity, being thus appropriate for implementation in real-life systems. Another important advantage is its generality: this technique may be applied to any microorganisms growth process which involves only one biochemical reaction. This means that the sequence of the control levels does not depend on the structure and parameters of the reaction kinetics, the values of the yield coefficients or the number of components in the bioreactor.