Module: Bioreaction Engineering

Module Specifications.

Current Academic Year 2024 - 2025

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Date posted: September 2024

Module Title	Bioreaction Engineering
Module Code	BE420 (ITS) / BTE1020 (Banner)
Faculty	Science & Health	School	Biotechnology
Module Co-ordinator	Vijai Kumar Gupta
Module Teachers	Brian Freeland, David Collins, Denise Harold, Paula Meleady
NFQ level	8	Credit Rating	7.5
Pre-requisite	Not Available
Co-requisite	Not Available
Compatibles	Not Available
Incompatibles	Not Available

None

Description

This module provides the student with an introduction to chemical, biochemical and microbial kinetics as well as the design and analysis of batch, fed-batch and continuous bioreactors.

Learning Outcomes

1. To understand the concept of a reaction rate for chemical, biochemical and microbial reactions
2. To be able to formulate overall and solute balances for batch bioreactors
3. To be able to formulate the solute and overall balances for fed-batch bioreactors
4. To be able to formulate the solute balances for continuous stirred tank reactors.
5. To be able to write computer code to simulation the performance of batch, fed-batch and continuous bioreactor performance.
6. To have knowledge and understanding of novel bioreactor conflations

*Type*	*Hours*	*Description*
Workload	Full-time hours per semester
Lecture	36	Lectures and tutorials
Independent Study	151.5	Study and problem-solving
Total Workload: 187.5

All module information is indicative and subject to change. For further information,students are advised to refer to the University's Marks and Standards and Programme Specific Regulations at: http://www.dcu.ie/registry/examinations/index.shtml

Indicative Content and Learning Activities

Principles of chemical and biochemical kinetics
Rate equations; kinetic data analysis; 1st and second order reaction order reactions; complex reaction; enzyme-catalysed reactions; inhibition;

Principles of microbial kinetics
Monod kinetics; the yield coefficient; cell death; cell maintenance; product formation;

Modelling of microbial growth in batch bioreactors
Formulation of cell and substrate balances in batch bioreactors; Exact solution of monod kinetics; simulation of cell growth using Berkeley Madonna and complex kinetics

Modelling of fed-batch bioreactors
The crabtree effect; formulation of solute balances in fed-batch systems; simulation of fed-batch bioreactors using Berkeley Madonna; operation of fed-batch bioreactors with exponential feed

Continuous bioreactors
Formulation of solute balances cell growth in a continuous stirred tank bioreactor; perfect mixing; dilution rate; washout; recycle; modelling of non-perfectly mixed CSTBs; plug-flow bioreactors; axial dispersion; tanks in series; simulation of tanks in series models.

Novel Bioreactor configurations
Packed bed bioreactors; airlift loop bioreactors; bubble column bioreactors

Assessment Breakdown
Continuous Assessment	60%	Examination Weight	40%

Type	Description	% of total	Assessment Date
Course Work Breakdown
Assignment	In Class Test/MCQ	30%	n/a
Assignment	Group Assignment/Presentation	30%	n/a

Reassessment Requirement Type
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories: Resit category 1: A resit is available for both* components of the module. Resit category 2: No resit is available for a 100% continuous assessment module. Resit category 3: No resit is available for the continuous assessment component where there is a continuous assessment and examination element.
* ‘Both’ is used in the context of the module having a Continuous Assessment/Examination split; where the module is 100% continuous assessment, there will also be a resit of the assessment
This module is category 1

Indicative Reading List

James M. Lee: 2009, Biochemical Engineering, Prentice Hall, 9780130853172
John Villadsen , Jens Nielsen , Gunnar Lidén: 2011, Bioreaction Engineering Principles, Third Edition, Springer, 9781441996879
N. S. Punekar: 2018, ENZYMES: Catalysis, Kinetics and Mechanisms, Springer, 9789811307843
Irving J. Dunn, Elmar Heinzle, John Ingham, Jiří E. Přenosil: 2003, Biological Reaction Engineering, Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 9783527307593

Other Resources

None