Bioreactor

Article By:

Fernandes, Pedro C. B. Faculty of Engineering, Universidade Lusófona de Humanidades e Tecnologias, Lisboa, Portugal.

Last reviewed:October 2019

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1036/1097-8542.083975

A device manufactured or engineered to provide an adequate environment for biological reactions to occur. A bioreactor is designed and operated to provide optimal conditions for the growth and metabolic activity of microbial, animal, insect or plant cells (Fig. 1). Compared to chemicals produced in conventional chemical reactors, biological cells are more sensitive to environmental conditions. Hence, bioreactors require monitoring and control of process conditions such as pH, temperature, gas flow, dissolved oxygen levels, and mixing conditions. The goal is to obtain either a product produced by the cell, such as an amino acid, antibiotic, protein, or antibody, or simply a large amount of cells or tissues. The intended product typically can be formed during the growth phase as a result of energy metabolism (a primary metabolite, such as ethanol or l-glutamate) or during the stationary phase of growth after net growth has ceased (secondary metabolites, such as antibiotics or pigments). A bioreactor is designed so that efficient transport of gases, liquids and solids is achieved in a manner compatible with the sensitive biological system used; it is adapted to the specific requirements of the biological system involved; proper heat transfer is provided; it is compatible with operation in an industrial environment; and it prevents foreign contamination, providing a sterile environment throughout the process. Bioreactors are available as vessels of different sizes, ranging from a few hundreds of cubic millimeters (wells in microtiter plates) to 10–1000 cm³ (Erlenmeyer-type shaken flasks), 1–50 dm³ (laboratory-scale vessels), 0.3–1.0 m³ (pilot-scale vessels), to 2–500 m³ (plant scale). See also: Biotechnology; Cell (biology); Chemical reactor; Energy metabolism

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