Biotechnology

Modern biopharmaceuticals are produced through biotechnological fermentation processes. Monitoring these processes is becoming increasingly important, particularly in manufacturing, to facilitate cost-effective production. To date, biotechnological processes have typically been monitored using offline analysis, which often provides results too late to enable corrective action.

In bioreactors, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are emitted as metabolic by-products of microbial growth and production. Using the ProC-TOF online mass spectrometer to monitor these emitted volatile metabolites in bioreactor exhaust gas in real time enables the measurement of microbial activity for quality assurance and process control.

The ProC-TOF-MS system can analyse trace gas concentrations of volatile metabolites in biopharmaceutical fermentation off-gases in real time. This highly relevant process-related information can be utilised for online process monitoring and process control.

We provide users with customised ProC-TOF-MS solutions, offering an integrated ProC-TOF online mass spectrometer biosystem optimised for the biotechnology industry.

Advanced bioprocess monitoring

The ProC-TOF-MS system enables the monitoring of a wide range of volatile metabolites. Even without knowledge of the metabolic relationships of the measured VOCs, the resulting bioprocess monitoring can serve as a tool for online quality assurance. It is designed to enhance the quality, safety and efficiency of drug manufacturing processes.

Process Control and Optimisation

Monitoring signals are directly correlated with metabolic activity. Changes in specific signals can be used to detect metabolic overload in cells. This opens up promising prospects for advanced process control.

In GMP Production

The ProC-TOF-MS system can be used for real-time process monitoring in fermentation processes subject to industrial GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) controls. Where existing processes are unsuitable, the ability to monitor volatile microbial metabolites in exhaust gases enables the introduction of online mass spectrometry into this highly regulated field.