Process development and economical evaluation

SINTEF has extensive experience with bioprocess development and optimization, especially fermentation processes and has highly efficient facilities for this type of work:

A well equipped biochemical and microbiological laboratory, which among others include an anaerobic work station.

A small scale fermentation laboratory with fermentors (32 x 3 liter, 6 x 14 liter) with extensive computer logging and control. 

Equipment for product isolation and purification in laboratory scale, such as membrane filtration units (0.03-1.0 m2 membrane area) and chromatography equipment (preparative HPLC, FPLC, etc).

A Pilot Plant for Bioprocesses at SINTEF/NTNU capable of handling liquid volumes from 100-1500 liters, with fermentors, centrifuges, cell homogenizer, and equipment for membrane filtration and chromatography.

Analytical instruments include several analytical HPLCs, preparative HPLC, GC, and LC-MS. These are used for a variety of analyses including amino acids, alcohols, sugars, lactic acid, lower fatty acids, long-chained fatty acids, and antibiotics.

Contact: Håvard Sletta (fermentation) or Inga Marie Aasen (downstream processing)

Not only technologic, but also economic evaluation is important in order to establish the industrial potential of new products and processes. The Department of Biotechnology has more than 20 years of experience in economic feasibility analysis of bioprocesses. For evaluation of intellectual property rights, we collaborate with patent attorneys both in Norway and abroad.

From laboratory to industry

Contact: Trond E. Ellingsen