Overview of integrated models for bioprocess engineering

• Integrated modelling of bioprocess engineering is valuable for many reasons.
• Data-based and mechanistic models of multi-step processes are reviewed.
• Process synthesis, optimisation, control and monitoring applications are discussed.
• Methods and insights from other areas could be transferred to bioprocess engineering.

The careful development and use of integrated models for process development may provide detailed process understanding, especially of unit operations that are far apart in a bioprocess train. In addition, such models may facilitate rapid, rational process development, and thus reduce development costs for new medicines. This review considers models for multiple unit-operations in sequence, and where applicable the use of single models to describe multiple phenomena. Since the bioprocess literature in this area is limited, relevant work from other areas is also reviewed. Both data-based and mechanistic models are discussed, as are their applications to process synthesis, optimisation, control and monitoring.