Biochemical engineering

Learning outcomes

To understand the similarities and differences between chemical and biochemical engineering

To learn about the different types of bioreactors, their characterization and their modes of operation

To acquire the ability to select a proper sequence of purification steps

Content

• The cell as a biocatalyst, its needs and performance
• Bioreactor systems
• Bioprocess analytics and control
• Bioprocess design
• Batch, fed-batch, and continuous culture
• Downstream processing: selection of a purification strategy
• Liquid/solid separations and cell lysis
• Precipitation
• Adsorption and chromatography
• Membrane techniques

You will find here the Excel files you will need for some of the calculation exercises

The Cell

Keywords: Structure of the prokaryotic and eukaryotic cell, culture collections, cell components, elemental cell composition, metabolic pathways, kegg, uptake system, membrane potential

Properties of Bioreactors

Keywords: Basic function of a bioreactor;different types of bioreactors;agitation and oxygen transfer

Advanced Bioreactors

Keywords: Control of bioreactors, PAT and QbD, upstream processing, sterilization techniques

Medium design

Keywords: Liebig's law, mass and energy balances, oxygen requirements, yield coefficients.

Batch growth

Keywords: Requirements for a successful batch, growth kinetics, Monod kinetics, stoichiometric model, integral medium design, microbial growth on defined and complex media, substrate inhibition, cell physiology of nutrient limited batch cultures.

Fed-batch cultivation

Key words: Batch growth extended, direct and indirect estimation of biomass, feed strategies, product formtation, high cell-density fed-batches

The html or Jupyter Notebook files are equivalent to the matlab files but have additional explanations.

Chemostat cultivation

Keywords: Chemostat, nutrient limitation, wash-out, optimal productivity, growth physiology, two-stage chemostat

Downstream processing - Lecture 1

Selection of a purification strategy

Keywords: significance of DSP; chemical and biotechnological DSP; biomolecules; purity; yield; (bio)activity retention; physical and thermal separations; thermodynamics; equilibrium; kinetics

Downstream processing - Lecture 2

Liquid/solid separation

Keywords: sedimentation; terminal settling velocity; centrifugation; filtration; filtration cake; compressibility;  cake and filter resistance;

Downstream processing - Lecture 3

Cell lysis and protein precipitation / crystallization

Keywords: cell lysis; cell wall structure and composition; high pressure homogenizer; bead mill; first order kinetics; precipitation; heat; pH; electrolytes; solvents; polymers; Cohn equation; crystallization; supersaturation

Downstream processing - Lecture 4

Adsorption and Chromatography 1

Keywords: adsorbate; adsorbent; isotherm; kinetics; mass transfer; breakthrough curve; dynamic binding capacity; ion exchange; HIC; affinity chromatography; SEC

Downstream processing - Lecture 5

Adsorption and chromatography

Keywords: adsorbent and adsorbate; active charcoal; adsorption isotherm; Langmuir; Freundlich; adsorption kinetics; fixed-bed adsorption; expanded bed adsorption; breakthrough curve ; ion exchange; hydrophobic interaction; affinity chromatography; van Deemter equation;

Downstream processing - Lecture 6

Membrane-based separations

Keywords: Cross-Flow Filtration; Tangential Flow Filtration; Microfiltration; Ultrafiltration; Nanofiltration; Reverse Osmosis; (Nominal) Molecular Weight Cut-off; Osmotic pressure; Transmembrane pressure; Retentate; Permeate; Diafiltration; Concentration polarization