A New Carbon Dioxide Sensor Improves Productivity

A new carbon dioxide (CO₂) sensor combines precise and reliable determination of dissolved CO2, with the performance benefits of Intelligent Sensor Management. Errorless measurement and diagnostics that predict when maintenance will be required improve process safety.

In striving to achieve the goals of the Food and Drug Administration's Process Analytical Technology and Quality by Design initiatives, the in-line monitoring and subsequent control of CO₂ during fermentation processes can be of great value. Real-time, in-situ monitoring of the dissolved _CO2 levels in the fermentation medium allows timely action to be taken to maintain ideal process conditions, leading to higher yield and product quality assurance.

METTLER TOLEDO's new InPro 5000i is a fully sterilizable and autoclavable in-line CO₂ sensor. It has European Hygienic Engineering and Design Group certification for compliance with hygienic requirements. The sensor’s membrane provides an excellent barrier against volatile organic acids, ensuring errorless measurement.

The InPro 5000i's modular design makes maintenance and spare part replacement fast and convenient. The ideal housing for the sensor is the retractable InTrac 797 as its integrated flushing chamber allows easy sensor calibration and cleaning, even during a running fermentation.

The InPro 5000i is the latest member of METTLER TOLEDO’s Intelligent Sensor Management (ISM) family of sensors and transmitters. ISM is a digital platform for analytical measurement solutions. ISM's predictive diagnostic tools constantly monitor the InPro 5000i's "health" so that it can be easily determined if the sensor can be safely used for the next fermentation run. Once the sensor reaches the end of its lifetime it can be deactivated to prevent it being used at the measurement point. ISM's electronic documentation capabilities provide full traceability of sensor calibration and maintenance for regulatory compliance. In addition, the signal between sensor and transmitter is digital and is unaffected by cable length, electrical interference or moisture in the environment.

The combination of sensor design and ISM technology means the InPro 5000i is ideally suited for continuous, real-time dissolved CO₂ measurement in biofermentation.