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Douglas B Kell

Robert W Todd

Method and apparatus for the determination of biomass in a suspension, such as a culture, in `real` time and a fermentation process using the method. In the method the electrical capacitance of the suspension is measured and from the measurement the volume fraction of the suspension enclosed by the cytoplasmic membranes of the cells (biovolume) is determined.

Determination of biomass

Apparatus for the determination of biomass in a suspension and its use in a fermentation apparatus. The apparatus includes electrodes to be placed in the suspension and the following other components: circuit for applying an alternating voltage between the electrodes; circuit for providing a current signal indicative of the current in the current electrode circuit; circuit for providing a voltage signal indicative of the voltage between the ratio between the value of the voltage signal and the value of a quadrature component of the current signal, or vice versa, to provide a capacitance dependent signal.

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Aberystwyth, Dyfed SY 3HB, United Kingdom

Douglas B Kell