Real time monitoring of anaerobic fermentation by Raman and FTIR spectroscopy

Abstract

A major challenge in carbon recovery through the carboxylate platform is the poor selectivity of anaerobic fermentation in a given carboxylate (e.g. acetate, propionate, butyrate…). Furthermore, our understanding of how changes in fermentation (pH, retention time, substrate concentration…) may be used to steer the fermentation to a targeted product is limited. Vibrational spectroscopy methods (i.e. Raman and FTIR) can be used for real-time process monitoring by estimation of fermentation metabolites and, in some cases, substrate uptake. Combined with process mathematical models, it is possible to obtain real-time evaluation of the fermentation state and propose corrective actions