Development of simulation algorithms and computational modeling of microbial growth processes operating in batch, fed batch and continuous bioreactors for didactic application using Python as a programming language

Abstract

Mathematical models constitute themselves as indispensable tools to simulation, control, monitoring and optimization of biochemical and biotechnological processes, having, to this end, as basis variable complexity equations utilization, which once correct and properly validated to meets a process peculiarities, provides information’s with high confidence degree about it, contributing, so, to a financial and operational resources decline. In this way, scientific computation tools emerges as main processes modeling stages facilitators, with emphasis to those developed in Python language, an attractive alternative to simulation and modeling of fermentation reactions which occurs in reactors operating in batch, fed-batch and continuous, in view of disponibility of powerful libraries to the analysis of data and mathematical calculations, as well as environments programming totally open source to wearers-programmers, following syntax of the relative simplicity of logical understanding and manipulation. Therefore, the implementation of mathematical models deducted from a mass balance equation simple, flexible and customizable to each kind of fermentation, through algorithms developed fully in Python, will extensively add to the study, in academic environments, of chemical and kinetic behaviors of microbial fermentation processes, becoming a various didactic tool for this knowledges purchase by graders and professors in a dynamics and ease manner. (AU)