Course Description
The study of electron transfer interaction in biological systems. Topics include redox biochemistry, bio-energetics and thermodynamics, kinetics, transport processes in bio-electrochemical systems, and engineering of bio- electrochemical systems.
Additional Requirements for Graduate Students:
Graduate students will be required to complete a project,
prepare a technical report, and deliver an oral presentation.
The project will be about the design and development of a bio-
electrochemical device such as a bio-sensor or a bio-battery.
Athena Title
BIO ELECTROCHEM ENG
Prerequisite
BCMB(BIOL)(CHEM) 3100
Undergraduate Pre or Corequisite
BCHE 3145 and BCHE 3420
Semester Course Offered
Offered every year.
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Course Objectives
• Students will learn the principles of electrochemistry and understand the difference between chemical and electrochemical processes. • Students will learn the fundamentals of bioenergetics and bioelectrochemistry. • Students will learn thermodynamics, kinetics and transport in biochemical redox processes and apply the knowledge to practical engineering problems (e.g., bio-energy conversion). • Students will learn the design of laboratory experiments to analyze common bioelectrochemical systems and interpret the results. • Graduate students will develop skills to design devices using bioelectrochemical platform (graduate level). • Graduate students will enhance their skills at technical report writing and presentation (graduate level).
Topical Outline
Bioelectrochemical engineering is a highly interdisciplinary field of science that integrates biology, biochemistry, electrochemistry and engineering. The course will cover the study of biological electron transport processes and its application to practical problems in engineering. In laboratory sessions (which are included in the classroom lecture hours), students will perform experiments to study the thermodynamic and kinetics of bio-electrochemical processes. Students will also get basic training in analytical techniques needed for the laboratory experiments. Examples of topics that will be covered in this course include: • Electrochemical potentials • Kinetics of electrodic processes • Bioenergetics and biological electron transport • Bio-electrocatalysis • Bio-electrosynthesis Graduate students will design a basic bioelectrochemical device such as a biosensor or a bio fuel cell.