A probing feeding strategy for Escherichia coli cultures

A strain-independent feeding strategy for fed-batch cultures of Escherichia coli is presented. By superimposing short pulses in the glucose feed rate, on-line detection of acetate formation can be made using a standard dissol ved oxygen sensor. A simple feedback algorithm is then used to adjust the f eed rate to avoid acetate formation. The feasibility of the strategy is dem onstrated by both simulation and experiments.