A Hybrid Soft Sensor Approach Combining Partial Least-Squares Regression and an Unscented Kalman Filter for State Estimation in Bioprocesses

Abstract

Real-time information on key state variables during fermentation is crucial for the effective optimization and control of bioprocesses. Specialized sensors for online or at-line monitoring of these variables are often associated with high costs, especially during early-stage process optimization. In this study, fed-batch processes of an L-phenylalanine (L-phe) production process were carried out using a recombinant Escherichia coli strain under varying inducer concentrations. The available online process variables from the L-phe production process were used to estimate the state variables biomass, glycerol, L-phe, acetate, and L-tyrosine (L-tyr) via partial least-squares regression (PLSR). These predictions were then incorporated as measurements into an unscented Kalman filter (UKF). The filter uses a coarse-grained model as a state estimator, which, in addition to extracellular variables, also provides information on intracellular states. The results of PLSR showed very good prediction accuracy for L-phe, moderate accuracy for glycerol, biomass, and L-tyr and poor performance for acetate concentrations. In combination with the UKF, the estimation of the L-phe concentrations was greatly improved compared to the CGM, whereas further improvement is still needed for the remaining state variables.