Addressing raw material variability: In-line FTIR sugar composition analysis of lignocellulosic process streams

For a sustainable economy, biorefineries that use second-generation feedstocks to produce biochemicals and biofuels are essential. However, the exact composition of renewable feedstocks depends on the natural raw materials used and is therefore highly variable. In this contribution, a process analytical technique (PAT) strategy for determining the sugar composition of lignocellulosic process streams in real-time to enable better control of bioprocesses is presented. An in-line mid-IR probe was used to acquire spectra of ultra-filtered spent sulfite liquor (UF-SSL). Independent partial least squares models were developed for the most abundant sugars in the UF-SSL. Up to 5 sugars were quantified simultaneously to determine the sugar concentration and composition of the UF-SSL. The lowest root mean square errors of the predicted values obtained per analyte were 1.02 g/L arabinose, 1.25 g/L galactose, 0.50 g/L glucose, 1.60 g/L mannose, and 0.85 g/L xylose. Equipped with this novel PAT tool, new bioprocessing strategies can be developed for UF-SSL.

The role of biospectroscopy and chemometrics as enabling technologies for upcycling of raw materials from the food industry

It is important to utilize the entire animal in meat and fish production to ensure sustainability. Rest raw materials, such as bones, heads, trimmings, and skin, contain essential nutrients that can be transformed into high-value products. Enzymatic protein hydrolysis (EPH) is a bioprocess that can upcycle these materials to create valuable proteins and fats. This paper focuses on the role of spectroscopy and chemometrics in characterizing the quality of the resulting protein product and understanding how raw material quality and processing affect it. The article presents recent developments in chemical characterisation and process modelling, with a focus on rest raw materials from poultry and salmon production. Even if some of the technology is relatively mature and implemented in many laboratories and industries, there are still open challenges and research questions. The main challenges are related to the transition of technology and insights from laboratory to industrial scale, and the link between peptide composition and critical product quality attributes.

Colorimetric and Physico-Chemical Property Relationships of Chemically Defined Media Powders Used in the Production of Biotherapeutics

Growth of mammalian cells in the production of biotherapeutics often require the benefits of chemically defined media (CDM). Storage, handling and stability advantages of CDM powders govern the preponderance of their use across the industry. Physico-chemical property lot-to-lot variation of these multicomponent powders, however, continues to be a challenge. Process imposed degradation of amino acids and vitamins, for example, can influence cell density, specific titer, and the quality profile of the molecule expressed due to the lack of process understanding and suitable mitigation controls. Such degradation can materialize in either their manufacture or in downstream media dissolution steps. Colorimetry, in lieu of visual appearance, can be an effective surveillance method for the direct assessment of CDM quality as color change is indicative of chemical-physical variations. This work describes a series of studies aimed to establish relationships between quantitative color change and physico-chemical attribute variation of glucose-free and glucose-based powders. The results illustrate color change is indicative of amino acid glycation, vitamin degradation and particle size shifts. These relationships enable a colorimetric control strategy for the sensitive and rapid detection of relevant CDM variation to drive additional targeted assessments to improve the productivity and robustness of cell culture processes.