BIRLA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY AND SCIENCE, PILANI

KK Birla Goa campus

INSTRUCTION DIVISION
Course Handout

Course No. : CHE F421 / CHE C421

Course Title: Biochemical Engineering
Instructor-in-charge: Vivek R

1. Course description

Biochemical engineering essentially draws the principles of chemical engineering processes such
as mass, heat and momentum transfer and applies the same to biological systems with the motive
to improve the bio-product yield and productivity from biochemical reactions. With bacterial
cells and enzymes as prime models to describe the biological reactions carried out in bioreactors
such as stirred tank and pneumatically agitated vessels, the course will also give a brief insight
about the design and analysis of various bioreactors. The important models describing the
microbial growth and enzymatic reactions under homogenous and heterogeneous reaction
conditions will also be dealt with.

2. Coarse objectives

At the end of the course, the student should have

 A sound understanding of biochemical engineering principles
 An overview of bioprocesses, including processes using biological agents and
processing of biological materials
 The ability to solve mathematical problems dealing with biological reaction
kinetics, basic bioreactor design and transport phenomena in bioprocesses
 Enthusiasm to study advanced topics in biochemical engineering

3. Text book (TB):

Biochemical Engineering Fundamentals, James E. Bailey and David F. Ollis, 2nd Edition,
Mc Graw-hill international.

4. Reference books (RB):

Bioprocess Engineering Basic Concepts, Michael L. Shuler and FikretKargi

Bioprocess Engineering Principles, Second Edition, Pauline M. Doran
Fermentation technology, Second Edition, PF Stanbury, A Whitaker & SJ Hall
5. Course Plan

Lecture Learning
Topics to be covered
No. Objectives

 Overview of the course

Introduction to
 What is a Biochemical Engineer?
1–3 Biochemical
 Cellular metabolism
Engineering
 Biological basics: Cells

 Energy source, carbon sources, nitrogen

sources and other minor and trace nutrients
Formulation of
 Medium optimization
4-6 growth medium,
 Criteria for development of inocula
inoculum
 Development of inoculum for bacterial
processes

 Elemental balances
Stoichiometry of
 Electron balances
microbial growth
7-11  Degree of reduction, Theoretical oxygen
and product
demand
formation
 Theoretical prediction of Yield coefficients

Kinetics of
substrate
 Ideal reactors (batch, CSTR)
utilization, product
12-17  Growth kinetics (balanced, transient)
formation and
 Kinetic models
biomass production
in cell cultures

 Gas-liquid mass transfer in cellular systems

 Determination of oxygen transfer rates
Transport  Determination of volumetric oxygen
18-24 phenomena in transfer coefficient
bioprocess systems  Power consumption for sparged and
agitated vessels
 Heat transfer correlations

Design and analysis  Ideal bioreactors

25-30  Sterilization reactors
of bioreactors
 Multiphase bioreactors: Packed-bed,
 bubble column, fluidized bed, trickle bed
reactors

Optimization and  Scale-up criteria

31-33 Scale up of stirred  Challenges in scale-up
tank bioreactors  Scale-down models

 Simple enzyme kinetics with single

substrate
The kinetics of
 Determining rate parameters for Michaelis-
34-40 enzyme catalyzed
Menton type kinetics
reactions
 Immobilized enzyme kinetics for zero and
first order systems

6. Evaluation Scheme

Evaluation Weightage Date, Time and Nature of

Duration
Component (%) Venue Component

09-10-2018 (9 –
Test - 1 90 min 30 CB
10.30 AM)

CB/OB

(3 quizzes before
Design project, midsem- 15
To be announced
seminars and NA 30 marks and 1
in class
attendance presentation post
midsem- 10
marks)

Comprehensive 03-12-2018
3 hrs 40 CB
Examination (FN)

Dr. Vivek R
Instructor-in-charge
Biochemical Engineering