The impact of residual air in bioreactor sterilization

BIOT 272

William J. Kelly, william.j.kelly@villanova.edu1, Stephen Hannon1, Monica Paddock1, and T. Bruce Vickroy, Bruce_Vickroy@gsk.com2. (1) Chemical Engineering Department, Villanova University, 800 Lancaster Avenue, 318 White Hall, Villanova, PA 19085-1681, (2) Biopharmaceutical Development, GlaxoSmithKline, P. O. Box 1539 UE3836, King of Prussia, PA 19406-0939
The presence of air pockets in a bioreactor during a steam sterilization process could result in a less effective sterilization. Experimental results from this study support previously published data indicating that the concentration of air (or humidity) , in addition to temperature and time, can effect the effectiveness of a steam sterilization process. The death rate of bacillus spores was found to decrease as the moisture levels decreased from 100% to 80%. The results of a Computational Fluid Dynamic (CFD) simulation indicates that the % moisture in peripheral ports (addition etc..) at the end of a 30 minute sterilization was not always 100%, and varied depending on the dimensions and location of the port.

 

Poster Session
5:30 PM-7:30 PM, Wednesday, August 22, 2007 BCEC -- Exhibit Hall - B2, Poster

Division of Biochemical Technology

The 234th ACS National Meeting, Boston, MA, August 19-23, 2007