Implementação de automação em biorreatores para produção de bioinsumos: um estudo de caso

Abstract

The present study addresses the production of bioinputs such as Bradyrhizobium, Azospirillum, Beaveria, and Isaria in an automated bioreactor using Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs). The main objective is to evaluate the performance of these equipment as an innovative alternative to conventional bioreactors, aiming to improve the productive capacity and quality of the bioinputs. Automation is justified by the need to monitor critical variables such as temperature, pressure, pH, dissolved oxygen, aeration, and agitation throughout the production chain to ensure favorable conditions for the development of microorganisms. However, the high cost of conventional bioreactors makes their acquisition unfeasible for many companies, which end up using manual equipment, subject to operational errors and imprecise control of essential variables. This negatively affects product quality and production capacity. Therefore, automating manual bioreactors at an affordable cost emerges as a promising strategy to boost productivity and competitiveness of companies. This descriptive and exploratory study details the automation process of a manual bioreactor used in bioinput production and presents the objectives achieved with the implemented technology. The results were analyzed qualitatively and quantitatively, based on information collected from primary and secondary sources. Automation ensured an ideal cultivation environment for microorganisms, resulting in higher biomass production and bioactive compounds. PH, temperature, agitation, pressure, and level control systems provided a more stable and predictable operation, maximizing the yield of the biotechnological process. Furthermore, cost analysis demonstrated that automation provided significant savings compared to the acquisition of a new automated bioreactor. The customization of the automation project met the specific needs of the process and integrated existing technologies in the industrial plant, adding value and maximizing return on investment.