Abstract

Recent advances in molecular biology have led industry and government agencies to recognize the economic potential for applying these advances in a diversity of industrial sectors, including the production of new drugs, food additives and chemicals, and conversion of biomass, etc. However, implementation of these new technologies requires measurement capabilities which do not currently exist. Bioprocesses require a very closely controlled environment, normally realizable only in batch processes. This is mainly because of the complex kinetics of most bioreactions, separate periods of growth and product formation, biocatalyst degeneration, contaminant risks, and the mechanical difficulties of handling a rheologically complex material. Therefore, development of new on-line and noninstrusive measurements are desirable to avoid difficulties associated with sampling, contamination, long response time, etc.

© 1987 Optical Society of America