Biomitate 2

Projectname:
Simulation-supported Biofilm Imitation Test for Cleanability Assessment in the Food Industry

Workgroup: Hygienic production

Scientific Partners and Guidance:

  1. Fraunhofer-Institut für Verfahrenstechnik und Verpackung IVV Dresden, Matthias Joppa
  2. in cooperaton with ecoplus. Niederösterreichs Wirtschaftsagentur GmbH und Universität für Bodenkultur Wien (BOKU)

IGF: 01IF00388C
Financing: BMWK
Duration: 2024 – 2027

The food and biotech industry faces challenges related to biofilm formation on surfaces and in closed processing equipment, leading to microbial contamination and immense efforts for cleaning and disinfection. The contamination may result in food recalls, with a significant increase in pathogenic microorganism notifications in recent years. Bacterial biofilms pose a critical health risk, being responsible for a substantial portion of chronic infections and foodborne diseases. Tailored and targeted cleaning procedures and effective cleaning validation processes are crucial to mitigate these risks.

Hence, this project aims to ensure the biofilm removal by developing a fast, secure and efficient cleaning test method for closed systems. It innovatively incorporates the use of a biofilm imitation and the numerical simulation of the cleaning process. The research seeks to enhance hygiene, prevent microbial accumulation, and validate cleaning procedures in industrial settings. Key objectives include selection and characterization of industry-relevant, dynamically grown reference biofilms, the development of a transportable cleaning and cultivation test rig, the generation and application of biofilm imitations mimicking the biofilm reference as well as to model and numerically simulate the cleaning behavior of the biofilm and its imitation. The novel, simulation-supported cleaning test can for example be used to evaluate cleaning and decontamination concepts, to quantify the effort to clean production equipment and to identify the hardest-to-clean areas.

This project aims to greatly enhance the imitation and its application procedure introduced in the forerunner project ‘Biomitate’, transforming it into a tool for assessing the effectiveness of cleaning in place processes of closed industrial production equipment. Biomitate 2 introduces significant innovations, including the investigation and description of dynamic biofilm growth within closed systems. Moreover, the possibility to simulate the complex cleaning behavior of biofilms and their imitations provides valuable insights into effective cleaning strategies. The project will pioneer the use of simulations to optimize equipment design with a strong emphasis on hygienic considerations, leading to improved, easier-to-clean equipment. The project will cover a range of dynamic cleaning conditions, ensuring a comprehensive understanding of cleaning effectiveness. And lastly, Biomitate 2 will also investigate the accumulation of biofilms on specialized sensors, contributing to the knowledge of biofilm control related to sensor technology.

Through comprehensive work packages this project collaboratively involves industry stakeholders to ensure timely deliverables and the swift dissemination of industry-relevant discoveries. By focusing on mimicking realistic industrial scenarios and assessing biofilm characteristics, this project aims to provide a valuable tool set for improving cleaning efficacy, reducing contamination risks, and enhancing product quality in the life science industry. Furthermore, optimized cleaning procedures will result in a higher resource efficiency leading to economic advantages and improved sustainability.

The IGF project presented here by the Research Association of the Industrial Association for Food Technology and Packaging (IVLV e.V.) is funded by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action as part of the program for the promotion of industrial community research (IGF) based on a decision of the German Bundestag.