Case Study on Optical DO Sensors in Fermentation
Case Study

Optical DO Sensors in Fermentation

Case Study

Novozymes Sees the Light

Novozymes is the world leader in the production of enzymes and has a global market share of more than 30%. It produces a wide array of products for accelerating production processes for industries as diverse as agriculture, biopharma, food and beverage, and household care. 

Throughout enzymes production Novozymes technicians know the importance of maintaining ideal growth conditions in bioreactors. One critical parameter during fermentation is the dissolved oxygen (DO) level. 

Monitoring DO in fermentation over long batch runs demands sensors with very low drift. For many years, Novozymes has used amperometric sensors for DO monitoring in fermentation. But measurement drift has always been a concern. Novozymes began to look at alternative solutions and became particularly interested in optical technology from METTLER TOLEDO.

Read in the case study how for Novozymes, optical DO sensors from METTLER TOLEDO offer them low drift, high measurement accuracy and minimal maintenance.

The InPro 6860i DO sensor has a hygienically polished surface finish for ease of cleaning between batches, making it highly suitable for fermentation applications. In respect to maintenance, instead of the replaceable membrane body, inner body and electrolyte fluid found in amperometric sensors, only one component of the InPro 6860i, the OptoCap (which contains light-sensitive molecules), requires periodic exchange.

The InPro 6860i monitors itself for wear and translates this information into predictive diagnostics tools. These provide a real-time display of sensor “health” and mean that any necessary maintenance can be conducted before the batch, ensuring the sensor will operate reliably throughout the run.