Aims: To provide an understanding of the various biological, reactor and separation process strategies that can be employed to produce biochemicals in a controllable and predictable process through the exploitation of bacteria, yeast and higher organisms. To introduce the main unit operations used in the separation of materials of biological origin; to provide an understanding of the role of each operation within a multi-unit process and how this is influenced by the properties of the process stream; to introduce and explore the use of quantitative performance equations for design purposes.
Learning Outcomes:
After successfully completing this unit the student should be aware of the importance of biological considerations when assessing reactor strategies; to be able to assess and design a reactor for cell growth or to carry out an enzyme reaction; to be aware of the main separation techniques available and how their choice is dependent on the nature of the bioproduct to be produced.
Skills:
Acquisition and critical assessment of technical information in biochemical engineering. Taught, facilitated and assessed.
Content:
Oxygen transfer during a fermentation; micro-organism growth kinetics; enzyme reactor kinetics; quantitative performance equations for bioreactor design; strategies for bioreactor equipment design; properties of biochemicals which influence choice and availability of methods; cell recovery; cell disruption/release of intracellular products. General introduction to membrane processes, materials of construction and modes of operation; flux in UF/MF effects of concentration, pressure and temperature; Chromatographic separations, review of techniques available. Design of adsorption columns; simplified models based on equilibrium assumption, kinetic models with and without an assessment of mass transfer coefficients. Prediction of breakthrough.
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