Modeling the continuous lactic acid production process from wheat flour.

A kinetic model of the simultaneous saccharification, protein hydrolysis, and fermentation (SSPHF) process for lactic acid production from wheat flour has been developed. The model describes the bacterial growth, substrate consumption, lactic acid production, and maltose hydrolysis. The model was fitted and validated with data from SSPHF experiments obtained under different dilution rates. The results of the model are in good agreement with the experimental data. Steady state concentrations of biomass, lactic acid, glucose, and maltose as function of the dilution rate were predicted by the model. This steady state analysis is further useful to determine the operating conditions that maximize lactic acid productivity.

Nonlinear predictive control for maximization of CO2 bio-fixation by microalgae in a photobioreactor.

In the framework of environment preservation, microalgae biotechnology appears as a promising alternative for CO2 mitigation. Advanced control strategies can be further developed to maximize biomass productivity, by maintaining these microorganisms in bioreactors at optimal operating conditions. This article proposes the implementation of Nonlinear Predictive Control combined with an on-line estimation of the biomass concentration, using dissolved carbon dioxide concentration measurements. First, optimal culture conditions are determined so that biomass productivity is maximized. To cope with the lack of on-line biomass concentration measurements, an interval observer for biomass concentration estimation is built and described. This estimator provides a stable accurate interval for the state trajectory and is further included in a nonlinear model predictive control framework that regulates the biomass concentration at its optimal value. The proposed methodology is applied to cultures of the microalgae Chlorella vulgaris in a laboratory-scale continuous photobioreactor. Performance and robustness of the proposed control strategy are assessed through experimental results.