Course Description
Principles and applications of biochemical engineering processes and unit operations through experiential learning.
Athena Title
Adv Biochemical Engr Lab
Prerequisite
BCHE 3420 and BCHE 4510/6510
Semester Course Offered
Offered every year.
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Course Objectives
Students will work in teams to work on problems in advanced biochemical engineering topics, including biochemical engineering reactor design, bio-electrochemical engineering, and unit operations. Students will develop skills modeling and analyzing such systems. Students will learn the design of experiments and the interpretation of results. Students will enhance their skills in technical report writing and presentation. Students will learn and utilize basic knowledge and skills in statistics.
Topical Outline
Students will work in teams on up to five laboratory modules during the semester. Each laboratory module will be completed in a three-week period, generally following the structure of lecture (week one), laboratory (week two), and discussion/analysis (week three). Lectures will directly complement a specific module and lead to an understanding of kinetics/reactor design, unit operations such as filtration or mechanical separation, biosensing, or biochemical fuel cells. Students will also model these systems and interpret the experimental results. Students will be expected to 1) comprehend the physical system and define key parameters, 2) conduct experiments, 3) adjust/modify the experimental protocol, 4) analyze and interpret experimental results including statistical analysis, 5) complete written laboratory reports, and 6) present results orally. Topics in statistical analysis may include and are not limited to: 1. Review of statistical analysis topics covered in BCHE 3180L 2. Experimental design 3. ANOVA 4. Significance tests 5. Confidence intervals Examples of laboratory modules include: 1. Determination of reaction rate constant 2. Demonstration of the effect of temperature and concentration on reaction rate 3. Determination of residence time distribution in a batch, CSTR, and plug flow reactors 4. Understanding the principles of batch enzyme kinetics 5. Determination of the catalytic activity of an enzyme 6. Determination of flow rate and column length effects in chromatography separation 7. Comparison of the kinetics of chemical and biological reactions (enzymatic catalysis) 8. Understanding the principles of flow injection analysis (FIA) 9. Study of agitation and cooling rate effects on the performance of crystallization unit 10. Evaluation of crystallization efficiency and crystallization kinetics 11. Determination of polarization performance of biochemical fuel cells
Syllabus