BS935-10 Biochemical Engineering - Bioreactor Engineering & Unit Operations
Introductory description
This module will introduce students to the range of fundamental operations used by process engineers, who perform chemical and biological reactions on a large scale and separate the raw products into finished materials suitable for the market place.
Module aims
The principle focus will be on biotechnological processes. The module will cover processing options for handling and separating compounds of interest. It aims to develop process engineering skills which will enable students to select the appropriate methods to make the required end product.
Outline syllabus
This is an indicative module outline only to give an indication of the sort of topics that may be covered. Actual sessions held may differ.
Review of Process Engineering Unit Operations including:
Feedstock variability and how to deal with this; Fermentation and Bio-Reactors; Extraction/Separation technologies - distillation/condensation; solvent extraction; crystallisation; drying/evaporation; mixing; solids separation and processing; Optimisation of performance; Dealing with waste e.g. effluent treatment with emphasis on those systems used in bioprocessing.
This will be reinforced with field visits to processing sites and through invited speakers from Industry.
Learning outcomes
By the end of the module, students should be able to:
- Identify, review and select the key processing steps to convert raw materials into marketable end products.
- Demonstrate knowledge of different biotechnology reactor designs and analyse what influences the choice of different systems.
- Critically assess the choice of process options, including the difficulties experienced with scale up
- Interact effectively with Process Engineers on the conceptual design of process systems by oral, written or visual means
- Critically compare and debate alternative process options based on a critical assessment of the known data.
Indicative reading list
Comprehensive Biotechnology 2nd Edition Editor Murray Moo-Young ISBN 978-0444533524
Richardson, Coulson, Backhurst, and Harker, Chemical Engineering 6th Ed Butterworth Heinemann 1999
Schuler & Kargi Bioprocess Engineering - Basic Concepts
ISBN 0130819085
Perry Chemical Engineers Handbook Platinum Edition
ISBN 0071355405
Bruce Nauman, Handbook of Chemical Reactor Design, Optimization, and Scaleup
ISBN: 0071377530 McGraw-Hill Science/Engineering September 2001
Edward L. Paul (Editor), Victor Atiemo-Obeng (Editor), Suzanne M. Kresta (Editor), North American Mixing Forum, Handbook of Industrial Mixing: Science and Practice (with CD-Rom) ISBN: 0-471-26919-0 Wiley December 2003
MacKenzie Davis and David Cornwell, Introduction to Environmental Engineering ISBN: 0072387777 McGraw-Hill Science/Engineering September (2004)
Yang S-T (Ed) Bioprocessing for high value products from renewable resources (2014), ISBN 978-0444521149
Shukla A A, Etzel M R & Gadam S, Process scale bioseparations for the biopharmaceutical industry, ISBN 978-1574445176
Liese A, Seelbach A & Wandrey C (Eds) Industrial biotransformations (2006 edition), ISBN 978-3527310012
Jonathan R. Mielenz [and others] (2007) Biotechnology for Fuels and Chemicals : the twenty-eighth symposium . Humana Press.
View reading list on Talis Aspire
Subject specific skills
Demonstrate knowledge of different biotechnology reactor designs and analyse what influences the choice of different systems.
Transferable skills
Critically compare and debate alternative process options based on a critical assessment of the known data.
Study time
| Type | Required |
|---|---|
| Lectures | 14 sessions of 1 hour (14%) |
| Seminars | 8 sessions of 1 hour (8%) |
| Practical classes | 4 sessions of 1 hour (4%) |
| External visits | 1 session of 8 hours (8%) |
| Other activity | 66 hours (66%) |
| Total | 100 hours |
Private study description
No private study requirements defined for this module.
Other activity description
Self-directed study
Costs
No further costs have been identified for this module.
You do not need to pass all assessment components to pass the module.
Assessment group A1
| Weighting | Study time | Eligible for self-certification | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seminar Presentation | 30% | No | |
| Poster | 50% | Yes (extension) | |
| MCQ | 20% | No |
Feedback on assessment
Generic oral feedback to cohort on MCQ, poster and seminar assessments. Written individual feedback to each student on poster and seminar assessments. Face-to-face feedback on any assessment provided on request from the student.
Courses
This module is Core for:
- Year 1 of TBSS-C5N2 Postgraduate Taught Biotechnology, Bioprocessing and Business Management