Significance of measuring metabolic heat in bioprocess monitoring

Abstract

Calorimetry is an excellent process analytical tool that offers insights into thermal behaviour for material and product characterization. Since the middle of the 1980s, biocalorimetry has been a crucial component of bioprocess monitoring, building on its use in chemical reactions. Anaerobic, fermentative and aerobic bioprocesses have all been studied using isothermal and heat flux calorimetry. In recent decades, calorimetry has become essential for controlling experimental bioprocesses by recognizing metabolic heat as a universal parameter. Quantitative bioprocess engineering and optimization are based on calorimetry. For process improvement, it is crucial to establish a relationship between heat generation and important process variables including substrate consumption, growth rate, biomass and enzyme activity. This article portrays the case studies involved in metabolic heat monitoring for tannery soak liquor waste water degradation, biological dye degradation and during the production of protease, inulinase, penicillin G acylase and extracellular biopolymers. Biocalorimetry’s non-invasive, non-specific and optically independent nature makes it a versatile analytical technique. Notably, the distinctive heat profiles (unique fingerprints heat signatures) of different organisms can be exploited to optimize bioproduct production and reduce costs.