HERPASA launches bioreactor skid with automated process control

HERPASA has completed the design and manufacture of a bioreactor skid that controls all parameters involved in the process of microbial growth, their visualization and management through SCADA systems (Supervisory control and data acquisition).

If there is one word that is on everyone's lips, it is biotechnology, which is destined to revolutionise the pharma sector, especially its processes. And although biotechnology has many variants and offers a huge range of possibilities, in many cases, the production of a drug revolves around a bioreactor.

A bioreactor is a tank designed to grow living organisms or biochemically active substances under controlled conditions. There is a wide variety of processes that result in several types of bioreactors that can be classified in different ways.

All the attributes they usually include, such as the temperature control jacket, the agitators, or the sensors, are aimed at maintaining a series of critical conditions in the reactor environment. These conditions are: pH, temperature, nutrients, and dissolved oxygen.

Our bioreactors are designed to operate in "batch" mode, with the following operating stages:

• Loading of the culture medium: Addition of the required volume of medium inside the bioreactor.
• Inoculum addition: Addition of the culture inoculum inside the bioreactor.
• Bioreaction: The bioreaction is carried out, in which temperature, optical density, pH, and dissolved oxygen are controlled and monitored.
• Bioreactor discharge: The product is discharged for processing in the downstream stages.
• CIP: Automated cleaning of the bioreactor, its piping, and components.
• SIP: Sterilization of the bioreactor.

If a continuous process is needed, our engineering team will carry out the required adaptation.