Biological Engineering

Application of Application of

science, science,

engineering and engineering and

technology technology

to solve problems in biological to solve problems in biological systems systems

(including medicine).(including medicine).

Economy of scale: correlation between achievable product concentration and selling price for common fermentation products.

Designing new-generation bioprocesses increasingly

depend on engineering process-compatible

microorganisms. The latter, whether through genetic or

physiological manipulations, can be greatly assisted by

metabolic engineering.

To achieve these goals, more fundamental knowledge is

needed about metabolic pathways, control mechanisms

and process dynamics to optimally design integrated

systems.

This knowledge will enable industry to select the right

biocatalyst in clean fermentation processes, as well as

introduce and express new or improved properties of

the biocatalyst via genetic engineering to facilitate

and/or improve downstream processing.

Examples of Examples of BioprocessesBioprocesses

1: Penicillin1: Penicillin

2: Sorona2: Sorona

3: Biological Effluent Treatment3: Biological Effluent Treatment

Penicillin historyPenicillin history• 1928 Fleming noticed contaminant on S. aureus plate.

• Contaminating foreign particle was Penicillium notatum

• Fleming extracted secreted material with strong antimicrobial properties

• WWII great need for antimicrobial-USA (Merck, Pfizer etc.) Attempted to synthesize compound chemically

• Began to develop fermentation process (stirring, sterile air supply, tank design, heat transfer, product purification)

• Required scientists and engineers to work together

Various lactic acid acidification technologies are aimed at

eliminating salt byproduct formation.

How to pick the best bioreactoroptions for your application.

• A handful of basic bioreactor designs is used to produce a wide range of products, from antibiotics to foods to fuels.

• Continuous vs. batch

• Semi continuous

• Submerged bioreactors — stirred tank,

• Airlift external-loop reactors

• Anaerobic bioreactions

A tray bioreactor is loaded with the culture medium and organisms, then airflow is

started to initiate the reaction.

Stirred-tank bioreactor

• uses baffles and an

agitator for optimal

mixing, and

recycles biomass.

concentric draught-tube bioreactor

• The simple design

of a concentric

draught-tube

bioreactor

with annular liquid

downflow results in

less maintenance

An airlift external-loop reactor

• has induced

circulation that

directs air/liquid

throughout vessel.

A trickle-bed employs

• adhered,

immobilized cells /

enzymes to

accomplish a

reaction.

Immobilized enzyme Immobilized enzyme technologytechnology

• With the enzyme immobilized in a bed or tube,

the solution of substrate for conversion is then

passed through for conversion to product.

• The product is continuously collected as effluent

• from the bioreactor. The design and operation of

an immobilized system is similar to that of

processes employing heterogeneous catalysis.

Heterogeneous systems enable product recovery

at lower separation costs than do corresponding

homogeneous systems.

HighHigh--fructose corn syrup fructose corn syrup (HFCS).(HFCS).

• Glucose isomerization to fructose is a well-established, high-volume commercial process for the production of high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS).

• Technologies using immobilized glucose isomerase in fixed-bed and fluidized bioreactor continue to be developed.