411-393 Bioprocess Engineering

Students may only gain credit for one of 411-393 Bioprocess Engineering or 411-392 Fermentation Process Engineering.

411-303 Reactor Engineering

Structure and function of biological macromolecules; biochemical pathways; genetics and cellular control processes; cell structure and function; microbial diversity and survey of microbial groups methods for characterisation, cultivation and enumeration of microorganisms; and survey of applications in biochemical and environmental engineering.

Enzymic process. Michaelis-Menten approach. Kinetics of enzyme inhibition. Immobilised enzymes. Batch microbial growth and product formation. Continuous culture. Microbial growth kinetics. Application of Monod model to batch and chemostat culture. Kinetics of product formation. Maintenance energy and endogenous respiration. Design of fermentation processes. Medium formulation and inoculum preparation. Industrial sterilisation processes. Calculation of sterility level. HTST sterilisation. Design of continuous sterilisers. Air sterilisation. Vessel design for aseptic operation. Fermenter design configurations. Aeration of fermenters. Oxygen requirements of microorganisms. Mixing in fermenters. Biochemical separation processes.

Practical work (Microbiology laboratory).

The objectives are to introduce students to the biological and kinetic concepts underlying bioprocesses engineering and to acquaint them with procedures for the design and control of industrial scale fermentation and biological waste treatment processes.

One three hour examination at the end of semester1 contributing 90% to the assessment and practical work assignments not exceeding a total of 1000 words contributing 10% to the assessment.