bioprotsessid

Bioprotsessid (bioprocesses) are processes that use living cells or their components to produce materials or perform transformations. They combine biology with chemical engineering to convert substrates into valuable outputs under controlled conditions.

Core elements include a biological system (microorganisms, mammalian or plant cells, or isolated enzymes), a defined medium, energy and mass transfer (oxygen, nutrients, pH, temperature), and a bioreactor equipped with monitoring and control systems. Upstream processing develops the culture; downstream processing concentrates and purifies the product.

Major types include microbial fermentation, animal or plant cell culture, and enzymatic biocatalysis. Fermentation relies on microbial metabolism to yield compounds such as acids, alcohols, solvents, or proteins. Cell culture produces biopharmaceuticals and vaccines. Enzymatic biocatalysis uses isolated enzymes to shift chemicals toward desired products.

Process operation can be batch, fed-batch or continuous. Bioprocesses scale from laboratory experiments to industrial plants. Quality and safety are governed by regulatory frameworks such as GMP and related ICH guidelines, with emphasis on process validation and documentation. Applications span pharmaceuticals, food and beverages, biofuels, bioplastics, and environmental remediation.

Key performance metrics include titer (product concentration), yield (product per substrate), productivity (rate), and product quality. Challenges include contamination risks, genetic stability, reproducibility, capital and operating costs, and environmental impact. Bioprocessing has roots in traditional fermentation but evolved into a central pillar of modern biotechnology.