Bioreactors
In bioprocesses, oxygen is the most important gaseous
substrate for microbial metabolism and carbon dioxide the most important
gaseous metabolic product. One of the most critical factors in the operation of
a bioreactor is the provision of an adequate gas exchange in the process. The O2
and CO2 concentrations are often monitored from the process exhaust
air or used to ration the supply of nutrients to the bioreactor. Instruments
used for monitoring purposes need to sustain harsh environments, be easy to maintain,
and have minimum downtime.