A robust soft sensor to monitor 1,3‐propanediol fermentation process by Clostridium butyricum based on artificial neural network

• Published in: Biotechnology and bioengineering 2020-11, Vol.117 (11), p.3345-3355
• Main Authors: Zhang, Ai‐Hui, Zhu, Kai‐Yi, Zhuang, Xiao‐Yan, Liao, Lang‐Xing, Huang, Shi‐Yang, Yao, Chuan‐Yi, Fang, Bai‐Shan
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 1, 3‐propanediol; artificial neural network; Artificial neural networks; Bioreactors - microbiology; Cell Culture Techniques - methods; Clostridium butyricum; Clostridium butyricum - metabolism; Culture Media - analysis; Culture Media - chemistry; Culture Media - metabolism; Fermentation; Fermentation - physiology; Glycerol; Glycerol - analysis; Glycerol - metabolism; Kinetics; Microorganisms; Model accuracy; Neural networks; Neural Networks, Computer; Propylene Glycols - analysis; Propylene Glycols - metabolism; Sodium hydroxide; soft sensor
• ISSN: 0006-3592; 1097-0290
• DOI: 10.1002/bit.27507

With the aggravation of environmental pollution and energy crisis, the sustainable microbial fermentation process of converting glycerol to 1,3‐propanediol (1,3‐PDO) has become an attractive alternative. However, the difficulty in the online measurement of glycerol and 1,3‐PDO creates a barrier to the fermentation process and then leads to the residual glycerol and therefore, its wastage. Thus, in the present study, the four‐input artificial neural network (ANN) model was developed successfully to predict the concentration of glycerol, 1,3‐PDO, and biomass with high accuracy. Moreover, an ANN model combined with a kinetic model was also successfully developed to simulate the fed‐batch fermentation process accurately. Hence, a soft sensor from the ANN model based on NaOH‐related parameters has been successfully developed which cannot only be applied in software to solve the difficulty of glycerol and 1,3‐PDO online measurement during the industrialization process, but also offer insight and reference for similar fermentation processes. 1. A soft sensor from artificial neural network model based on NaOH related parameters has been successfully developed. 2. This model could be applied in software to solve the difficulty of glycerol, biomass, and 1,3‐propanediol online measurement during the industrialization process. 3. It may offer enlightenment and reference for some similar fermentation processes.