BACE Bioprocessing and Fermentation 2

Question 1

What is the function of a sparger in a bioreactor?

Accepted Answer

To introduce small bubbles of air or oxygen into the culture medium

Answer

To measure the pH of the fermentation broth

Answer

To add nutrients to the bioreactor during fed-batch operation

Answer

To remove foam from the surface of the culture

Question 2

What is 'downstream processing' in the context of biopharmaceutical manufacturing?

Accepted Answer

The series of steps used to isolate and purify the biological product from the fermentation broth

Answer

The inoculation of cells into production bioreactors

Answer

The sterilization of equipment before a production run

Answer

The storage and distribution of raw materials

Question 3

Which culture mode continuously adds fresh nutrients while removing spent media at the same rate to maintain a constant volume?

Accepted Answer

Continuous (chemostat) culture

Answer

Batch culture

Answer

Fed-batch culture

Answer

Perfusion culture

Question 4

What does pH control in a bioreactor typically involve?

Accepted Answer

Automated addition of acid or base in response to pH probe readings to maintain the setpoint

Answer

Manually adjusting pH once per hour

Answer

Using unbuffered media to allow natural pH equilibration

Answer

Filtering the broth to remove acidic byproducts

Question 5

What is 'scale-up' in bioprocessing?

Accepted Answer

Increasing the production volume from small laboratory bioreactors to large industrial-scale fermenters

Answer

Increasing the concentration of nutrients in the growth medium

Answer

Increasing the number of cell passages before production

Answer

Increasing the speed of centrifugation to improve yield

Question 6

What is the role of antifoam agents in fermentation?

Accepted Answer

To prevent excessive foam formation that can block air filters and reduce oxygen transfer

Answer

To increase the viscosity of the culture broth

Answer

To serve as a carbon source for microbial growth

Answer

To lower the temperature inside the bioreactor