Research and development

Research in bioprocess control and microbial cultivation

The team's research experience has been developed through projects at the Latvian State Institute of Wood Chemistry. The work covers cultivation scale-up, medium optimization, sensor signal processing, soft sensors and automatic process-control methods. This background supports the development of practical technologies and equipment solutions.

Process scale-up

Development of an economically-effective Bacillus subtilis MSCL 897-based biocontrol agent spore production in a pilot-scale bioreactor

A 100 L pilot-scale cultivation process was developed using a low-cost medium while achieving high spore yield and sporulation. The work also evaluated process repeatability, additional molasses feeding and antifungal activity of the culture.

Medium optimization

Development of an economically-effective Bacillus subtilis cultivation medium

Different low-cost carbon and nitrogen sources were compared to develop a medium with strong spore production. The results demonstrated the potential of molasses and faba-bean flour supplemented with small amounts of yeast extract or corn hydrolysate.

Automatic process control

L Production of recombinant Hepatitis B core (HBcAg) and surface (HBsAg) antigens in a P. pastoris cultivation process with methanol concentration control

A PI-based methanol feeding strategy was developed to maintain a selected methanol concentration in the cultivation medium. The control method was applied to optimize recombinant HBcAg and HBsAg production processes.

Sensor signal processing

Mathematical algorithm for in-situ turbidity and permittivity bioprocess sensor signal filtering

An algorithm was developed to identify and reduce abrupt sensor disturbances caused by changes in agitation speed and antifoam addition. The objective was to improve the stability of online biomass estimation during fermentation.

Biomass measurement

The use of in-situ and soft sensors for cell biomass concentration determination in recombinant P. pastoris fermentations

Laboratory measurements, online turbidity and dielectric-spectroscopy sensors, and soft sensors based on off-gas and base-consumption data were compared. The study used multiple cultivation runs under different operating regimes.