Mastersizer 2000 plays role in Bioreactor development at Leeds university

At the University of Leeds (UK) a Malvern Instruments Mastersizer 2000 particle size analyzer has proved highly successful and convenient as a means of monitoring and controlling the particle size distribution of carrageenan magnetite beads for bioprocessing applications.

 As biological processing becomes widespread, there is increasing pressure to improve the performance of bioreactors in order to enhance product quality and increase productivity. Work at the University of Leeds School of Process, Environmental and Materials Engineering has been focused on the development of a magnetically stabilised fluidised bed reactor. The development of a suitable carrier particle was a critical element in the project. Carrageenan magnetite particles were identified as possessing the necessary qualities. They are easy to manufacture, but must be of consistent high quality and in appropriate size ranges.

The Mastersizer 2000 had been used previously to measure non-magnetic ceramic beads, and has proved equally successful with the carrageenan particles despite their greater fragility. Analysis shows good agreement with sieving and microscopy, thus providing a convenient means of monitoring and controlling particle size distribution as production is scaled up.

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