title: Application of a microcomputer-based system to control and monitor bacterial growth.
abstract: A modular microcomputer-based system was developed to control and monitor various modes of bacterial growth. The control system was composed of an Apple II Plus microcomputer with 64-kilobyte random-access memory; a Cyborg ISAAC model 91A multichannel analog-to-digital and digital-to-analog converter; paired MRR-1 pH, pO(2), and foam control units; and in-house-designed relay, servo control, and turbidimetry systems. To demonstrate the flexibility of the system, we grew bacteria under various computer-controlled and monitored modes of growth, including batch, turbidostat, and chemostat systems. The Apple-ISAAC system was programmed in Labsoft BASIC (extended Applesoft) with an average control program using ca. 6 to 8 kilobytes of memory and up to 30 kilobytes for datum arrays. This modular microcomputer-based control system was easily coupled to laboratory scale fermentors for a variety of fermentations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210.
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Titus
authors.forename: G W
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: Luli
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Dekleva
authors.forename: W R
authors.initials: WR
authors.lastname: Strohl