Selection of bioprocess simulation software for industrial applications

Two commercially available, process-simulation software packages (Aspen Bat ch Plus v1.2, Aspen Technology, Inc., Cambridge, Massachusetts, and Intelli gen SuperPro v3.0, INTELLIGEN, INC., Scotch Plains, Ner jersey) are evaluat ed for use in modeling industrial, biotechnology processes. Software is qua ntitatively evaluated by Kepner-Tregoe Decision Analysis (Kepner and Tregoe , 1981). This evaluation shows that Aspen Batch Plus v1.2 (ABP) and Intelli gen SuperPro v3.0 (ISP) can successfully perform specific simulation tasks but do not provide a complete model of ail phenomena occurring within a bio technology process. Software is best suited to provide a format for process management, using material and energy balances to answer scheduling questi ons, explore equipment change-outs, and calculate cost data. The ability of simulation software to accurately predict unit operation scale-up and opti mize bioprocesses is limited. To realistically evaluate the software, a vac cine manufacturing process under development at Merck & Company is simulate d. Case studies from the vaccine process are presented as examples of how A BP and ISP can be used to shed light on real-world processing issues. (C) 2 001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.