title: Optimal design of upstream processes in biotransformation technologies.
abstract: In this work a mathematical programming model for the optimal design of the bioreaction section of biotechnological processes is presented. Equations for the estimation of the equipment cost derived from a recent publication by the US National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) are also summarized. The cost-optimal design of process units and the optimal scheduling of their operation can be obtained using the proposed formulation that has been implemented in software available from the journal web page or the corresponding author. The proposed optimization model can be used to quantify the effects of decisions taken at a lab scale on the industrial scale process economics. It is of paramount important to note that this can be achieved at the early stage of the development of a biotechnological project. Two case studies are presented that demonstrate the usefulness and potential of the proposed methodology.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Patras, Rio, 26504 Patras, Greece.
authors.forename: Endrit
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Dheskali
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Patras, Rio, 26504 Patras, Greece.
authors.forename: Katerina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Michailidi
authors.affiliation: Biotechnology Division, Research and Development Center, PETROBRAS, Av. Horácio Macedo, 950, Ilha do Fundão, Rio de Janeiro 21941-915, Brazil.
authors.forename: Aline Machado
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: de Castro
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Agricultural University of Athens, Iera Odos 75, 118 55 Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Apostolis A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Koutinas
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Patras, Rio, 26504 Patras, Greece. Electronic address: i.kookos@chemeng.upatras.gr.
authors.forename: Ioannis K
authors.initials: IK
authors.lastname: Kookos
mesh_terms: D001709:Biotechnology / Q000379:methods; D001711:Biotransformation; D002072:Butylene Glycols / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D003246:Conservation of Energy Resources; D005990:Glycerol / Q000378:metabolism; D006885:Hydroxybutyrates / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D011091:Polyesters / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D000091402:Prohibitins; D012984:Software; D000094122:Polyhydroxybutyrates
chemical_list: D002072:Butylene Glycols; D005990:Glycerol; D006885:Hydroxybutyrates; D011091:Polyesters; D000091402:Prohibitins; C000717328:PHB protein, human; C003182:poly-beta-hydroxybutyrate; D000094122:Polyhydroxybutyrates; C026978:2,3-butylene glycol
keywords: 2,3-Butanediol; Bioprocess design; Bioprocess optimization; Polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB)