Course: CHE 321 – BIOCHEMICAL ENGINEERING 1 (2 credits /Compulsory).
Course duration: 15 weeks (30hrs) as taught in 2011/2012 session
Lecturers:
1
Eletta O.A.A.
Ph.D. Chemistry (Ilorin), M.Sc. Chemical Engineering (Lagos), B.Sc. Chemical Engineering,
(Lagos)
Email: modeletta@unilorin.edu.ng
Consultation hours: Tuesday 2 -3 pm
2
Ajala, O.E.
M.Sc. Chemical Engineering (Ile-Ife), B.Tech. Chemical Engineering (Ogbomoso).
Email: ajala.oe@unilorin.edu.ng
Consultation hours: Wednesday 2 -3 pm
Location
1: Room 6: Chemical Engineering Building
2: Room 1: Chemical Engineering Building
Course Content
 Fundamental of Biochemical Engineering
 Introduction to Microbiology
 Chemicals of life
 Kinetics of enzyme, Kinetics of substrate utilization,
Product yield and biomass production in cell cultures
 Molecular genetics and control systems
 Transport phenomena in microbial systems.
30h (T) PR: CHM201 C
Course Description
The course is designed to introduce students in the Department of Chemical Engineering to
Biochemical Engineering principles and operations. Biochemical Engineering is the processing of
materials to useful products using biological agents such as microorganisms, plant and animal cells
and enzymes. Microorganisms such as bacteria, yeast, fungi, or actinomycete have manufactured
amino acids, nucleic acids, enzymes, organic acids, alcohols and physiologically active
substances on an industrial scale. The organism must also synthesize all the chemicals needed to
operate, maintain, and reproduce the cell. In this course, we shall discuss the application of microbes.
In fermentation processes, the objective is either to produce metabolite or biomass, this course also
describes how product forms and production of biomass in cell culture. The emphasis of the course is
also placed on the underlying principles of transport processes in microbial systems.
Course Justification:
The rapid development of biochemical engineering has impacted diverse sectors of the
economy over the last several years. The industries most affected are the agricultural, fine
chemical, food processing, marine, and pharmaceutical. In order for current biochemical
engineering research to continue revolutionizing industries, new processes must be developed
to transform current research into viable market products. Specifically, attention must be
directed toward the industrial processes of cultivation of cells, tissues, and microorganisms.
The “New Biotechnology” is making it increasingly possible to use recombinant DNA
techniques to produce many kinds of physiologically active substances such as interferons,
insulin, and salmon growth hormone which now only exist in small amounts in plants and
animals. The theoretical and practical knowledge acquired from this course will enable the
students to develop onto more detailed and advanced courses in biochemical and chemical
engineering.
Course Objectives:
The general objective of the course as an integral part of the B.Sc. requirements in Chemical
Engineering is for the student to be able to understand the applications of biological agents to produce
more valuable products and for the students to translate laboratory procedures of biochemical
processes to industrial large scale production.
Course Requirements:
This is a compulsory course for all Chemical Engineering students. In view of this, students
are expected to have minimum of 75% attendance to be able to write the final examination.
Methods of Grading:
No
1
2
3
Item
CA (Quiz, Assignment, Test etc)
Examination
Total
Score %
30
70
100
Course Delivery Strategies:
The lecture will be delivered through face-to-face method. The students will be required to
read around the topics.
LECTURES
Week 1: Fundamental of Biochemical Engineering
Objective: To introduce students to biochemical engineering principles and scope.
Description: Introduction: the course outline, relevant textbooks and mode of lecture
delivery. Who biochemical engineer is, related area of discipline and areas of specialization
of biochemical engineering.
Study Questions
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Who is a biochemical engineer?
Mention ten other related discipline to biochemical engineering
List six areas of biochemical engineering specialisation
Discuss five scope of biochemical engineering
Mention ten products of biochemical engineering process
Reading list
1. Richardson & Coulson (2007). Chemical Engineering, Vol 3, 3rd Ed., Elsevier
Publication, pp. 277 – 278.
2. Bailey J.E & Ollis D.F (1986). Biochemical Engineering Fundamentals, Mc Graw &
Hills Publication, pp. 1 - 10.
3. Doran, P.M. (1994). Bioprocess Engineering Principles. Academic Press, Harcourt
Brace and Company, Publishers, London. pp. 257 – 288.
4. James M. Lee (2009). Biochemical Engineering, Published by Prentice-Hall Inc. 5 - 33
Week 2 -3: Introduction to Microbiology
Objective: To instruct students on the various classes of microbes that is available,
classifications and applications of the microbes.
Description: Organisms could be broadly classified as Eukaryotes and Prokaryotes with each
having various types of organism. Each class is distinguished with distinct feature that
classify them as Eukaryotes and Prokaryotes. This classification is also base on several
factors which include morphology, mode of respiration, temperature of growth etc. Virus as
infectious agent that is too small to be seen with a light microscope has two part which
consists nucleic acid and protein coat.
Study Questions
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Define Microbiology
Highlight the distinguish features of prokaryotes
Discuss three factors that can be used to classify bacteria
Compare and contrast protozoa and algae
With the aid of diagram, explain the kingdom of protists.
Reading list
1. Dutta R., Fundamentals of Biochemical Engineering, 2008 ed. pp. 1 – 6
2. Richardson and Coulson, Chemical Engineering, Vol 3, 3rd Ed., Elsevier Publication,
2007, pp. 277 – 278.
3. J E Bailey and D F Ollis; Biochemical Engineering Fundamentals, Mc Graw & Hills
Publication, 1986, pp. 1 - 22.
Week 4 - 5: Chemicals of life
Objective: To teach students the four main classes of polymeric cell compounds which are
carbohydrates, lipids, protein and minerals.
Description: Carbohydrates are organic compounds that could be classified into
monosaccharide, disaccharide and polysaccharides. It has general formula of (CH2O)n. Lipids
are biological compounds which are soluble in non polar solvents and insoluble in water.
Chemically, proteins are unbranched polymers of amino acids linked head to tail, from
carboxyl group to amino group, through formation of covalent peptide bonds. Mineral is an
organic substance which is required in trace amount for normal cell function.
Study Questions:
1. What are hormones?
2. Explain the following:
a. Carbohydrates
b. Protein
c. Lipids
d. Minerals
3. Show the structural formula of glucose
Reading list
1. Dutta R., Fundamentals of Biochemical Engineering, 2008 ed. 1 – 6
2. Richardson and Coulson, Chemical Engineering, Vol 3, 3rd Ed., Elsevier Publication,
2007, 271 – 278.
3. J E Bailey and D F Ollis; Biochemical Engineering Fundamentals, Mc Graw & Hills
Publication, 1986, 27 - 76.
Week 6 - 10: Kinetics of enzyme, Kinetics of substrate utilization, Product yield and biomass
production in cell cultures
Objective: To teach students the concept of enzyme technology and give detail application of
enzyme in a biological process. To explain how to derive the available models of enzyme
kinetics with necessary assumption. To teach the students the rate at which organism
utilization the substrate and the corresponding yield of the product
Description: Enzymes are biological catalysts that are protein molecules in nature. They are
produced by living cells (animal, plant, and microorganism) and are absolutely essential as
catalysts in biochemical reactions. Enzyme kinetics deals with the rate of enzyme reaction
and how it is affected by various chemical and physical conditions. Kinetic studies of
enzymatic reactions provide information about the basic mechanism of the enzyme reaction
and other parameters that characterize the properties of the enzyme In order to understand the
effectiveness and characteristics of an enzyme reaction, it is important to know how the
reaction rate is influenced by reaction conditions such as substrate, product, and enzyme
concentrations.
Study Questions:
1. List four factors that influences enzyme activity
2. Derive the rate equation by employing Michealis M.
3. Explain how to determine the parameters Vs, Vp, Ks and Kp using experimental
measurements and Lineweaver Burk plots. The Kinetics is
 Vs   Vp 
p
s  

 ds dp  Ks   Kp 


S
P
dt
dt
1

Ks Kp
4. A continuous culture process is operated at steady state, and at a dilution rate of half
of the maximum specific growth rate of the microbe of μ max=0.5hr−1, D=0.25hr−1.
The glucose concentration in the reactor is 0.05 g/l. The feed glucose is at 2 g/l. A
Monod model describes the growth. Write down the Monod expression of growth for
this microbe. (Give the numerical values).
Reading list
1. Dutta R., Fundamentals of Biochemical Engineering, 2008 ed. pp. 8 – 69
2. Richardson and Coulson, Chemical Engineering, Vol 3, 3rd Ed., Elsevier
Publication, 2007, pp. 279 – 295.
3. J.E Bailey and D.F Ollis (1986). Biochemical Engineering Fundamentals, Mc
Graw & Hills Publication, pp. 373 - 441.
4. M. Pazouki, G. Najafpour and M. R. Hosseini (2008). Kinetic models of cell
growth, substrate utilization and bio-decolorization of distillery wastewater by
Aspergillus fumigatus UB260, African Journal of Biotechnology, Vol. 7 (9), 13691376,
5. Doran, P.M. (1994). Bioprocess Engineering Principles. Academic Press,
Harcourt Brace and Company, Publishers, London. pp. 257 – 288.
6. James M. Lee (2009). Biochemical Engineering, Published by Prentice-Hall Inc. 5 - 33
Week 11: Mid Semester Test
Week 12 - 13: Molecular genetics and control systems
Objective: To teach the students the cell genetics and expression of genetic information at
the molecular level.
Description: DNA contains a complete set of information determining the structure and
function of a living organism, be it a bacterium, a plant or a human being. DNA constitutes
the genes, which in turn are found in the chromosomes in the cell nucleus. When a cell
reproduces, each of the offspring must receive a complete set of genetic data in the form of
DNA. Transformation is a process of genetic transfer by free DNA. A double stranded DNA
fragment enters recipient cells which are competent to take up external DNA.
Study Questions:
1. Define the following;
2.
3.
4.
5.
a) Gene
b) Mutation
c) Translation
d) Transformation
List the sequence of steps required to clone a gene
A good cloning vehicle must generally have a number of features, what are those
features?
Differentiate between RNA and DNA
What is ligation? Name the enzyme use in ligation.
Reading List:
1. J.E Bailey and D.F Ollis (1986). Biochemical Engineering Fundamentals, Mc Graw &
Hills Publication, pp. 307 - 370.
2. Coulson and Richardson’s (2006). Chemical Engineering, Elsevier Publication, Vol 3,
pp. 315 – 325.
Week 14 - 15: Transport phenomena in microbial systems.
Objective: To teach students to understand the process of oxygen transfer in microbial
processes, its applications and development of relevant mathematical equation for the
microbial systems.
Description: Transformation of renewable resources (such as starch, cellulosic,
hemicellulosic, and lignin fractions) as fermentation feed stocks to produce desire products
typically involve rate processes limited by available particulate substrate surface areas and
solute diffusion rate. In product recovery and purification, subject of liquid-solid mass
transfer has significant role in process modelling of the microbial systems. This also has
application in mould pellets or beads and biofilms containing immobilized cells.
Study Questions:
1. At 35oC and 1 atmosphere of oxygen, the solubility of oxygen in water is
1.09milimole/liter. Find C* of oxygen transfer from an air containing 21% oxygen at
35oC.
Reading List:
1. H.J. Noorman, (2005). Biochemical Engineering principles, M. Berovic and A.W.
Nienow, Published by Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Technology, University of
Ljubljana, Slovenia, 67 – 83.
2. J.E Bailey and D.F Ollis (1986). Biochemical Engineering Fundamentals, Mc Graw &
Hills Publication, pp. 457 - 529.
Week 15: Revision and Examination