Chemical Engineering

Fundamentals of cellular and molecular biology. Chemical and functional properties of amino acids and proteins. Nucleic acids and Recombinant DNA Technology. Structure, properties and biological functions of enzymes. Molecular aspects of enzyme catalysis. Enzyme kinetics: phenomenological aspects and kinetic expressions. Michaelis-Menten equation. Effect of pH and temperature. Reversible and irreversible thermal denaturation. Competitive and non-competitive inhibition. Estimation of kinetic parameters. Bioreactors containing free or immobilized enzymes. Microorganisms of biotechnological relevance. Phenomenological aspects of microbial growth. Growth media, nutrients and substrates. Monod equation. Effect of pH, temperature and effectors on microbial growth. Substrate consumption associated with energy and biomass production. Yield factors and maintenance coefficient. Endogenous metabolism. Analysis of the kinetic behaviour of continuos, semicontinuous and batch bioreactors. Dilution rate and wash-out. Recirculating systems. Effect of the presence of interacting microbial populations. Cellular respiration. Oxygen demand and oxygen transfer in bioreactors. Estimation of mass-transfer coefficients. Mixing of fluids containing microbial cells. Turbulence effects on free and aggregated cells.

Basic knowledge of general chemistry, chemical engineering themodynamics, chemical kinetics and transport phenomena Fundamentals of differential and integral calculus

Stryer L., Biochimica, Zanichelli, Bologna, 1996 Ratledge C., Kristiansen B., Biotecnologie di base, Zanichelli, Bologna, 2004 Bailey J.E., Ollis D.F., Biochemical Engineering Fundamentals, Mc-Graw Hill, New York, 1986 Lecture notes provided by the teacher

The course does not require compulsory attendance, although it is strongly recommended

The assessment includes an oral test aimed at assessing the degree of preparation acquired by the student on the topics presented in the course as well as the methodological approach to face problems or situations that are relevant to the development of biochemical processes or technologies related to biochemical engineering

Teaching will take place in the classroom and will consist of lessons also conducted through PowerPoint presentations and seminars held by professionals and teachers in the biotechnology sector