Ian John Mwangi

SCT-251-006/2020
Bsc. Industrial Chemistry
Industrial Biotechnology CAT II

Question 1:

Describe downstream process stages.

 Harvesting: The first step in downstream processing is the separation of

the target product from the fermentation broth or cell culture. This can
be done using techniques such as centrifugation, filtration, or
sedimentation.
 Concentration: After clarification, the target product is often present in
a diluted form. Concentration techniques such as ultra-filtration, nano-
filtration, or evaporation are used to increase the concentration of the
target product.
 Purification: The next step is to purify the target product from the
remaining impurities. This is usually achieved using chromatography
techniques, such as ion-exchange chromatography, size-exclusion
chromatography, or affinity chromatography.
 Formulation: The purified product is often formulated to make it stable
and ready for use. This can involve adding stabilizers, buffers, or other
recipients to the product.

Question 2:

Explain why bacteria e.g. Escherichia coli are prepared for industrial
biotechnology.

 Fast Growth Rate: Bacteria have a rapid growth rate, which means they
can produce large quantities of product in a short amount of time. E.
coli, for example, can double its population in as little as 20 minutes,
making it an ideal organism for large-scale production.
  Easy to Cultivate: Bacteria are relatively easy to cultivate in large
quantities, requiring minimal resources and equipment. This makes
them a cost-effective option for industrial biotechnology.
 Well-characterized: Bacteria such as E. coli have been extensively
studied and are well-characterized, which means that their genetic and
metabolic pathways are well understood. This allows scientists to
engineer them to produce specific products with greater precision.
 Versatile: Bacteria are versatile organisms that can be engineered to
produce a wide range of products, including pharmaceuticals, biofuels,
enzymes, and bioplastics.
 Safe: Bacteria are generally safe to work with and pose minimal risk to
humans or the environment. E. coli, for example, is a naturally occurring
organism found in the human gut, and strains used in industrial
biotechnology have been modified to be even safer.

Question 3:

Describe the types and sources of culture media materials for fermentation
process.

 Carbon Sources: Carbon sources are the primary energy source for
microorganisms in fermentation processes. Common carbon sources
include glucose, fructose, sucrose, and lactose, which can be obtained
from various plant sources such as corn, potatoes, and molasses.
 Nitrogen Sources: Nitrogen sources are essential for the synthesis of
amino acids and proteins, which are required for microbial growth.
Common nitrogen sources include peptones, yeast extract, and
ammonium sulfate, which can be obtained from animal tissues, yeast,
and other microbial sources.
 Minerals: Minerals such as calcium, magnesium, and potassium are
essential for microbial growth and metabolism. These minerals can be
obtained from natural sources such as seawater or rock minerals.
 Vitamins: Vitamins are essential for microbial growth and metabolism.
Common vitamins used in culture media include biotin, thiamine, and
riboflavin, which can be obtained from natural sources such as yeast
and plant extracts.