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CE40126: Advanced biochemical engineering

[Page last updated: 06 September 2022]

Academic Year: 2022/23
Owning Department/School: Department of Chemical Engineering
Credits: 6 [equivalent to 12 CATS credits]
Notional Study Hours: 120
Level: Masters UG & PG (FHEQ level 7)
Period:
Semester 1
Assessment Summary: EX 100%
Assessment Detail:
  • Examination (EX 100%)
Supplementary Assessment:
Like-for-like reassessment (where allowed by programme regulations)
Requisites:
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.

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.

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.

Programme availability:

CE40126 is Compulsory on the following programmes:

Department of Chemical Engineering
  • UECE-AFM05 : MEng(Hons) Chemical Engineering (Year 4)
  • UECE-AKM05 : MEng(Hons) Chemical Engineering with Year long work placement (Year 5)

Notes:

  • This unit catalogue is applicable for the 2022/23 academic year only. Students continuing their studies into 2023/24 and beyond should not assume that this unit will be available in future years in the format displayed here for 2022/23.
  • Programmes and units are subject to change in accordance with normal University procedures.
  • Availability of units will be subject to constraints such as staff availability, minimum and maximum group sizes, and timetabling factors as well as a student's ability to meet any pre-requisite rules.
  • Find out more about these and other important University terms and conditions here.