Simulation investigations towards the development of a bacterial biopesticide fed-batch reactor

Abstract

In this work, the growth of Bacillus thuringiensis var. israelensis, a bioinsecticide producer, is investigated. Experiments were carried out in batch mode in order to obtain kinetic model parameters that were further applied to simulate fed-batch processes. The fed-batch mode allows more flexibility in the control of the substrate concentration in the culture medium. Different techniques, such as constant feeding, `bang-bang' control and model based control (exponential feeding and singular control), were compared. For the techniques based on a model, combinations of models with and without a substrate inhibition parameter were used to represent the simulated process and the internal model of the feeding controller. Singular control based on the model with an inhibition parameter proved to be the most robust controller.