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CHE
462
Introduction to Biochemical Engineering
Basics of enzyme kinetics and immobilization, basics of cell kinetics and cultivation, design of a simple enzyme reactor and a fermenter, methods of sterilization, downstream processes including purification and recovery.
Prerequisites:
0640324
0640462
(3-0-3)

Prerequisites by Topic:

  • Fundamentals of material and energy balances.
  • Computer methods in chemical engineering.
  • Rate laws and stoichiometry
  • Single and multiple reactor/s design.

Textbook(s):

  • Bioprocess Engineering: Basic Concepts, Michael Shuler & Fikret Kargi, 2^nd edition, Prentice-Hall, (2002)

Reference(s):

  • Bioprocess Engineering: Kinetics, Biosystems, Sustainability and Reactor Design. Shijie Liu, Elsevier, 1^st edition, (2013).
  • Biochemical Engineering Fundamentals, James Bailey and David Ollis, McGraw-Hill, 2^nd edition (1986).
  • Biochemical Engineering, Harvey Blanch & Douglas Clark, Taylor & Francis, (1997).
  • Elements of Chemical Reaction Engineering, H.S. Fogler, 4^rd edition, Prentice-Hall, (2005).
  • Elementary Principles of Chemical Processes. Felder and Rousseau, 3rd edition, John Wiley & Sons, (1999).
  • Unit Operations of Chemical Engineering, 5^th ed., McCabe, W. L., Smith, J. C. and Harriot, P., McGraw-Hill (1993)

Topics Covered:

  • Introduction to biochemical engineering (3 hours)
  • Enzyme kinetics (6 hours)
  • Immobilized enzyme kinetics (6 hours)
  • Enzymatic reactor design and analysis (4 hours)
  • Cell growth kinetics (6 hours)
  • Microbial reactor design and analysis (6 hours)
  • Transport phenomena in bioreactors (6 hours)
  • Downstream processing (5 hours)

Assessment Criteria:

  • Homework assignments
  • Midterm examinations
  • Final Examination

Course Objectives:

  1. To provide the biochemical engineering background necessary for designing fermenters.
  2. To train students on using systematic approaches for manual and computer-aided solution of biochemical engineering problems.

Performance Criteria:

Objective 1:

Students will be able to:

1. Understand enzyme and cell kinetics. (1)

2. Design an enzyme reactor and a fermenter. (1, 2)

Objective 2:

Students will be able to:

1. Study different biochemical processes in the industry. (4, 5)

2. Develop the rate equations of biological reactions using symbolic based programs. (1, 2, 6)

3. Use a process simulator, spreadsheets, and/or symbolic based programs to study and design biochemical processes. (2)

ABET Category Content:

Engineering Science: 1.5 Credit or 50%

Engineering Design: 1.5 Credit or 50%

Course Classification

Student Outcomes Level (L, M, H) Relevant Activities
1. An ability to identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics. H Students will be able to formulate and solve mass balance equations for different enzyme reactor types. Students will be able to identify enzymatic mechanism and formulate enzymatic rate equations given sets of enzymatic rate data. Students will be able to formulate ordinary differential material balance equations for immobilized enzyme systems and solve them analytically
2. An ability to apply engineering design to produce solutions that meet specified needs with consideration of public health, safety, and welfare, as well as global, cultural, social, environmental, and economic factors. H Students will be able to perform reactor design to accomplish biochemical transformations to produce commodities like biofuels. Students will be able to perform fermenter/bioreactor design to grow microorganisms or cell culture to produce recombinant protein
3. An ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences.
4. An ability to recognize ethical and professional responsibilities in engineering situations and make informed judgments, which must consider the impact of engineering solutions in global, economic, environmental, and societal contexts. M Students will be able know how different operational parameters affect performance of immobilized enzymes used in different biochemical industries. Students will be able to know how different operational parameters affect performance of homogeneous enzyme reactors and fermenters
5. An ability to function effectively on a team whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks, and meet objectives.
6. An ability to develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions. M Students will be able to analyze enzymatic rate data in order understand the behavior of enzymatic biochemical reactions in reactors. Students will learn how interpret kinetic data related to mass transfer limitations in immobilized enzymes
7. An ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies.