Opportunities and challenges of machine learning in bioprocesses: Categorization from different perspectives and future direction.

Journal: Bioresource technology
Published Date:

Abstract

Recent advances in machine learning (ML) have revolutionized an extensive range of research and industry fields by successfully addressing intricate problems that cannot be resolved with conventional approaches. However, low interpretability and incompatibility make it challenging to apply ML to complicated bioprocesses, which rely on the delicate metabolic interplay among living cells. This overview attempts to delineate ML applications to bioprocess from different perspectives, and their inherent limitations (i.e., uncertainties in prediction) were then discussed with unique attempts to supplement the ML models. A clear classification can be made depending on the purpose of the ML (supervised vs unsupervised) per application, as well as on their system boundaries (engineered vs natural). Although a limited number of hybrid approaches with meaningful outcomes (e.g., improved accuracy) are available, there is still a need to further enhance the interpretability, compatibility, and user-friendliness of ML models.

Authors

  • Seung Ji Lim
    Water Cycle Research Center, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Seoul 02792, Republic of Korea.
  • Moon Son
    Department of Urban and Environmental Engineering, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology, Ulsan 689-798, South Korea.
  • Seo Jin Ki
    Department of Environmental Engineering, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju 52725, Republic of Korea.
  • Sang-Ik Suh
    Department of Energy System Engineering, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju 52725, Republic of Korea.
  • Jaeshik Chung
    Water Cycle Research Center, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Seoul 02792, Republic of Korea; Division of Energy and Environmental Technology, KIST School, Korea University of Science and Technology (UST), Seoul 02792, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: jschung@kist.re.kr.