Operational strategy of reconfigurable membrane process for bio-based amino acid production

•The reconfigurable membrane system is implemented for amino acid production.•A superstructure model for the reconfigurable membrane process is developed.•Variations of the process conditions influence the optimal configuration.•The reconfigurable membrane system offers economic advantages in real plant. Reconfigurable manufacturing systems can rapidly and economically transform production facilities, allowing for the simultaneous realization of diverse customized product manufacturing and high productivity. In this study, the concept of reconfigurable manufacturing systems was introduced to the counter-current diafiltration membrane process for bio-based amino acid production. A superstructure model adaptable to any counter-current diafiltration cascade configuration was developed. This superstructure model optimizes the objective cost function, minimizing fluctuation costs associated with yield and utility. Case studies such as the production of L-lysine, L-arginine, and L-tryptophan were considered. Sensitivity analysis indicated that when membrane capacity becomes limited due to increased overall feed flow rates and decreased permeate flux, the role of the counter-current diafiltration step grows in importance. Circumstances caused by diverse product manufacturing, natural disturbance in bioprocesses, and shifts in productivity and cost priorities based on market dynamics indicate the promising economic potential of reconfigurable membrane systems. Since scalability, diagnosability, customization, modularity, and integrability are high, the reconfigurable membrane system has proven its capability to flexibly adapt to continuously changing conditions. All superstructure modeling and simulations in this study were executed using in-house graphical user interface software.