Understanding Temperature Control in Bioreactor Systems

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Depending on the culture requirements, there may be provisions to agitate the medium using a stirrer and/or by providing a flow of gas (oxygen, nitrogen), with the removal of by-products such as CO₂. This stirring also facilitates fluid mixing for an even distribution of temperature and increased uniformity.

There are three general processes that occur within a bioreactor:

• Cellular production. Extracellular components include alcohols and citric acids, whereas intracellular products are primary or secondary metabolites (amino acids, proteins, lipids), as well as enzymes.

• Cell mass growth. This can include baker’s yeast and single cell proteins for use in food production.

• Biotransformation. Enzymes within the cell are used to modify the compound during the fermentation process. These include steroids, antibiotics and prostaglandins.

Optimizing Temperature

Selecting the correct temperature control equipment to compensate for exothermic and endothermic reactions has many considerations. To begin with, the required temperature range needs to be determined.

• When using a small vessel of 10 L or less, in combination with a temperature range of 13 °C above ambient (33 °C set-point in a 20 °C room) and the reaction is endothermic, static, a heated bath circulator should sufficiently manage the load.

• When using a larger vessel that still requires heating, temperature control measures can be implemented to provide the initial heat requirement as well as the necessary chilling capacity.

• If the lowest temperature point is near or below ambient, the reaction is exothermic, or a controlled temperature change from high to low is required, then a bath circulator with refrigeration (for small vessels) or a larger chiller will be required.

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