On February 24th, Securecell organized the second edition of its kLa Determination Workshop, hosted at TU Delft. The event brought together participants from academia and industry for a full day dedicated to understanding and measuring the volumetric mass transfer coefficient (kLa), a critical parameter in bioprocess engineering.
The workshop focused on the role of kLa in gas–liquid mass transfer, particularly in bioreactor systems where efficient oxygen transfer is essential for optimal cell growth and process performance.
Participants gained both theoretical knowledge and practical experience through a combination of expert lectures and hands-on experiments. During the workshop, attendees had the opportunity to:
- Explore the fundamentals of gas transfer in bioreactors
- Learn how to experimentally determine kLa using the Dynamic Gassing-Out method
- Analyze experimental data to calculate kLa values
- Observe a live demonstration of automated kLa determination using Securecell’s Lucullus® bioprocess software
The event began with an in-depth lecture session led by experts from the Cees Haringa research group at TU Delft’s Bioprocess Engineering section. This was followed by a practical session in the university’s education fermentation laboratory, where participants operated lab-scale bioreactors and performed kLa experiments themselves.
The workshop concluded with a demonstration of Lucullus®, highlighting how automation and digitalization can streamline experimental workflows and support efficient bioprocess development.
Instructors
The workshop was led by experts from TU Delft and Securecell:
- Prof. Cees Haringa – Assistant Professor, TU Delft
- Simon Bakker – Fermentation Technician, TU Delft
- Rik Volger – PhD Candidate, TU Delft
- Ramon van Valderen – PhD Candidate, TU Delft
- Rowin Timmermans – Application Specialist Lucullus, Securecell BV
Next Workshop
The third edition of the kLa Determination Workshop is planned for Q3 2026, with the exact date to be announced soon. The event will again be open to participants from both academia and industry interested in gaining practical insights into bioprocess mass transfer.
