Automation of a temporary immersion bioreactor using an Arduino microcontroller: an efficient low-cost system for ornamental plant micropropagation

This study aimed to automate a temporary immersion bioreactor using an Arduino microcontroller. To that end, we built an automation system, consisting of a logic module, a physical module and a pneumatic system. The automation system was tested in a twin-flask bioreactor. A code was written to enable the Arduino to control immersion time (3 minutes) and the intervals between immersions (2, 4 and 8 hours). The functioning of the TIB was monitored daily for 60 days. The cost of assembling the logic and physical modules was determined and compared with the price of four programmable logic controllers (PLC) available on the domestic market. No system failure was detected in either of the two modules or the pneumatic system during TIB monitoring. The cost of assembling an automation system containing an Arduino is low in relation to the price of a PLC, which is 2.5 to 4 times more expensive. Additionally, using solid-state relays in the automation system provided greater protection for the Arduino electrical circuit than their electromagnetic counterparts. It was concluded that TIB automation can be achieved using an Arduino microcontroller, with the following advantages over PLC: low cost and the ability to incorporate solid-state relays and simultaneously control three rows of plant tissue with different immersion times.