Aber Instruments presented their most recent poster at the 6th ESBES conference in Austria at the end of August. The poster explains the background to the development of the latest Biomass Monitor Model 200 and probes that can be ideal for bacterial fermentations. Data from the University of Hamburg shows how the live cell concentration in a high density bacterial fermentation can be monitored with the new instrument. Copies of this poster are available on request by email or the internet. Subsequent work has compared the Optical density and Biomass Monitor output when the fermentation has become nutrient limiting and the growth rate has changed. At the end of the fermentation the OD rapidly increases as the cell debris and necromass rapidly accumulates but the Biomass Moniotor provides a true reflection of the live cell mass. On-line optical sensors will therefore be of little value in monitoring a complete fermentation.

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