Optimization of enzymatic lysis of yeast.

In enzymatic lysis of yeast for the recovery of intracellular proteins, the rupture of whole cells is caused by the action of a lytic system consisting primarily of protease and glucanase. A first-principles mechanism for the lytic reaction based on a two-layer model of the wall structure and a burst model for the disruption of cells is pre sented. The fed-batch model results in a dynamic optimization problem, with the enzymes, activities being the control variables. Orthogonal collocation is applied to discretize the state equations, and the resulting non linear program is solved using successive quadratic pro gramming to determine the enzyme and protease inhibitor add-in rates and pH control profiles that maximize the recovery of intracellular protein. Applying the proposed approach, optimal profiles were determined such that a significant increase of the production of proteins in a fed-batch reactor is realized. Also, the optimal control policies in a series of continuous-flow stirred tank reactors (CFSTRs) are determined.