On-line fermentation process monitoring of carbohydrates and ethanol using tangential-flow filtration and column liquid chromatography

This paper describes a fully automated on-line system for the unattended monitoring of bioprocesses. Removal of solids and macromolecules from fermentation broth is achieved with a tangential flow filtration unit (Waters Filter/Acquisition Module). The obtained filtrate is transported in a flow system to a cleanup step, based on solid-phase extraction, followed by introduction into a column liquid chromatographic system. Carbohydrates are then detected by refractive index and ethanol content usings laboratory-made selective amperometric alcohol biosensor