Confocal optical system for studying mixing in bioreactors

BIOT 246

Jose Vallejos, jose7@umbc.edu, Center for Advanced Sensor Technology, Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, University of Maryland, Baltimore County, TRC 227, 1000 Hilltop Circle, Baltimore, MD 21250, Yordan Kostov, Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, University of Maryland Baltimore County, TRC Room 226, 1000 Hilltop Circle, Baltimore, MD 21250, Mark R. Marten, marten@umbc.edu, Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, University of Maryland Baltimore County, ECS 101, 1000 Hilltop Circle, Baltimore, MD 21250, and Govind Rao, grao@umbc.edu, Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, University of Maryland, Baltimore County, 1000 Hilltop Circle, Baltimore, MD 21250.
A novel confocal system to study mixing time in small scale bioreactors is presented. The key elements of the confocal system are a pin-hole, a lens, an APD detector and light filters. The confocusing point of the system was found using a point green light source. Then, using a blue LED (excitation light source) and Fluorescein the size of the confocal volume was determined. It was found that the confocal volume for our mixing time detector is 0.4ml. The confocal system was used in a 42ml mini-bioreactor and graphs showing tracer concentration vs. time were obtained. The results suggest that the confocal system seems to be a promising tool to perform mixing time and circulation time studies in small scale bioreactors.
 

Poster Session
5:30 PM-7:30 PM, Wednesday, 16 March 2005 Convention Center -- Sails Pavilion, Poster

Division of Biochemical Technology

The 229th ACS National Meeting, in San Diego, CA, March 13-17, 2005