Bioreactor monitoring with spectroscopy and chemometrics: a review

Biotechnological processes are crucial to the development of any economy striving to ensure a relevant position in future markets. The cultivation of microorganisms in bioreactors is one of the most important unit operations of biotechnological processes, and real-time monitoring of bioreactors is essential for effective bioprocess control. In this review, published material on the potential application of different spectroscopic techniques for bioreactor monitoring is critically discussed, with particular emphasis on optical fiber technology, reported for in situ bioprocess monitoring. Application examples are presented by spectroscopy type, specifically focusing on ultraviolet–visible, near-infrared, mid-infrared, Raman, and fluorescence spectroscopy. The spectra acquisition devices available and the major advantages and disadvantages of each spectroscopy are discussed. The type of information contained in the spectra and the available chemometric methods for extracting that information are also addressed, including wavelength selection, spectra pre-processing, principal component analysis, and partial least-squares. Sample handling techniques (flow and sequential injection analysis) that include transport to spectroscopic sensors for ex-situ on-line monitoring are not covered in this review.