PhotoBionicCell Automated cultivation of biomass Software solutions for a digitalised laboratory In laboratories, many analyses have been done manually up to now. This not only takes a great deal of time and effort, but can also lead to errors. By automating such laboratory facilities, all necessary data could be read directly and in real time in the future, thereby allowing researchers to better concentrate on their key tasks. PhotoBionicCell is complemented by specially developed software. The dashboard allows multiple photo-bioreactors to be mapped with current data and live recordings. This means that manual parameter changes and subsequent evaluations can be made around the clock, even remotely. This allows users to react to changes in the bioreactor at any time and start harvesting products at the most suitable time, for example. The digitalised laboratory is enhanced by an augmented-reality application. Using a tablet, reality can be extended to visualise technical processes, process parameters and information about processes within the bioreactor. Artificial intelligence and digital twins Our developers also use artificial intelligence (AI) methods to evaluate data. This allows the bioreactor to be optimised either to propagate the algae cultures or to maintain predefined growth parameters with minimal energy input. It could also be used to predict the durability of valves and other components. The use of digital twins created with the help of AI would also be conceivable. In future, they could be used to simulate and virtually map complete life cycles for bioreactors. The expected cell growth of a wide variety of microorganisms could then also be accurately estimated, even before a real system is physically constructed. Further optimisation through artificial photosynthesis In addition to optimising laboratory facilities through automation and digitalisation, artificial photosynthesis offers another promising perspective to cultivate biomass even more efficiently. Automated dispensing as a basis With our project partner, the Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology, we have developed an automatic dispenser to improve individual photosynthesis enzymes. To do so, thousands of variants of an enzyme have to be tested. Compared to manual pipetting, the newly developed automatic dispenser does this much faster and without errors. In addition, the automatic machine can be adapted to new tasks in seconds. Synthetic biology for maximum efficiency But not only can individual photosynthesis modules be optimised. Scientists are now working on digitally optimising entire metabolic pathways. This approach is known as synthetic biology. A metabolic pathway optimised on the computer is packaged in synthetically produced cells, also known as droplets. These have a diameter of around 90 micrometres and contain all the necessary enzymes and biocatalysts. This enables them – just like their biological models – to lock in carbon dioxide by means of light energy. Fundamental research meets automation Even though we are still in the middle of the development process, we can already see future potential: if expertise in automation and fundamental research is combined, it will be possible to achieve industrial-scale carbon-neutral production more quickly. Sustainability in the future To cultivate the desired amounts of biomass with controlled cell growth in the future, systems such as PhotoBionicCell would have to be scaled up significantly. If chemical processes were replaced by biological processes, there would be no need for high temperatures, aggressive chemicals or fossil raw materials. Production will become both energy efficient and sustainable – benefiting people and the environment at the same time. We are making a significant contribution to this change towards a climate-neutral circular economy through innovative technologies and by continually learning from nature. 01 05 01: Automated bioreactor: best possible conditions for algae growth 02: Optimum process stability: perma- nent monitoring of multiple bioreac- tors from anywhere 03: Artificial photosynthesis: cultivating the droplets in a second bioreactor 04: Specially developed automatic dispenser: thousands of tests to improve enzymes 04 03 02 05: On an industrial scale: a solution for the climate-neutral circular economy of tomorrow 6 Festo SE & Co. KG 7 PhotoBionicCell: Automated cultivation of biomass
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NzczNDE0