CHEN 509: Biochemical Engineering Test (2 HRS) 25/02/2016

Instruction: Attempt all questions

1.
a. Sketch and label a typical eukaryotic cell (2 marks)
b. Mention 2 differentiating features of an eukaryotic cell to that of prokaryotes (2 marks)
c. Write short notes on the following: (i) Bacteria, (ii) Fungi (3 marks)
d. Write this biological name properly: penicillium ChrySogenum (1 marks)
e. Differentiate between cellobiose and cellobiase (2 marks)
2. In an attempt to produce glucose from cotton lint using cellulase sourced from A. niger, in a batch reactor
operation the following data were obtained, starting with 0.02 millimol/lit of the cellulase and 1 millimol/lit of
the cotton lint:

CA, millimol/ 0.84 0.68 0.53 0.38 0.27 0.16 0.09 0.04 0.018 0.006 0.0025

liter

T, hr 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

Determine whether these data can be reasonably fitted by a kinetic equation of the Micheal-Menten type
or not (b) if the fit is reasonable; evaluate the intrinsic and Michealis constants respectively. Hint:
KMln(CSO/CS) + (CSO – CS) = rmaxt (10 marks)
3.
a. Compare and contrast a stirred-tank and a bubble column fermenter by simply stating the advantages
and disadvantages of each unit. (2 marks)
b. How is a chemostat different from a turbidostat? (2 marks)
c. Illustrate the autocatalytic nature of cell kinetics by an appropriate plot (1 marks)
d. Estimate the mass-transfer coefficient for the oxygen dissolution in water (25 oC) in a mixing vessel
equipped with flat-blade disk turbine and sparger by using the Calderbank correlations for small
bubbles. You may wish to note the following: diffusivity of oxygen in water at 25 oC = 2.5 x 10-9 m2/s,
μH2O @25oC = 8.904 x 10-4 kg/m.s, 𝞀H2O@25oC = 997.08 kg/m3 and the Calderbank correlation is given as:
1/3
k L=0. 31 Nsc−2/ 3 ( Δ ρμc g/ ρ2c )
(5marks)

4. A cylindrical tank (1.22 m diameter) is filled with water to an operational level equal to ¾ of the tank diameter.
The tank is with four equally spaced baffles whose width is one tenth of the tank diameter. The tank is agitated
with a 0.36 m diameter flat two-blade paddle. The impeller rotational speed is 4.43 rps. The air enters through
an open-ended tube situated below the impeller and its volumetric flow rate is 0.0217 m3/s at 1.08 atm. and
25oC. Calculate the Power requirement for this system. Hints: the viscosity and density of water at 2 5oC are
given as 8.904 * 10-4 kg/m s and 997.08 kg/m3 respectively;

( )
DI

( ) ( ) ( ) [ ]
4. 38 0. 115
Pm DI D 2I N DI N2 1. 96
DT Q
log 10 =−192 −7 3
P mo DT 8 . 93∗10 g ND I

while (10 marks)