BIOE 422

Introduction to Bioprocess Engineering

Engineering
Spring 2009

Class meeting time and location:

Lecture meeting time and location: MW 9:00-9:50PM in Room 114 Sockwell Hall
Lab meeting time and location: T 10:00-11:50PM in Room 114 Sockwell Hall

Instructor: Lijun Wang, Ph.D., P.E., C.E.M.

Assistant professor of biological engineering
121, Sockwell Hall
Phone: (336) 334-7787
Email: lwang@ncat.edu

Office Hours: MW 8:00-9:00 AM and 10:00-11:00 AM, T: 8:00-10:00 AM

Credits: 3

About the Instructor

Dr. Lijun Wang is currently an assistant professor in biological engineering at North Carolina Agricultural
and Technical State University. He is licensed professional engineer in chemical engineering and certified
energy manager with the Association of Energy Engineers. He received his Ph.D. degree in Biosystems
Engineering from National University of Ireland-Dublin in 2002, M.S. in Chemical Engineering from
South China University of Technology in 1997 and B.Eng. in Chemical Engineering from Zhengzhou
University (China) in 1994.
Dr. Wang’s teaching and research interests are in the areas of (1) food and bioprocess engineering, (2)
bioenergy and biobased products development, (3) energy conversion and conservation technologies, (4)
process design, analysis and synthesis, and (5) computational process engineering. He has served as an
independent instructor for (1) BIOE 440: Engineering Properties of Biological Materials, (2) BIOE 330:
Engineering Design and Systems Analysis, (3) BIOE 422: Introduction to Bioprocess Engineering, and
(4) BIOE 522: Introduction to Food Engineering Computations in Biological Systems at NC A&T State
University. Dr. Wang also taught Computations in Biological Systems at University of Nebraska and
served as a guest lecturer for Unit Operations of Bioprocess Engineering, and Heat and Mass Transfer.
Dr. Wang regularly presents and publishes at academic meetings and peer-reviewed journals.

Brief Course Description

Welcome to Introduction to Bioprocess Engineering, a 3-credit, senior undergraduate course offered by

the Biological Engineering Program of NCAT. Bioprocessing is an essential part to convert biological
materials into marketable products and destroy processing wastes using living organisms in many
industries such as food, pharmaceutical, energy and chemical industries. Introduction to Bioprocess
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Engineering is designed for individuals interested in expanding knowledge and skills to apply biology and
engineering principles to processes involving cell or enzyme catalysts for the development of food and
biobased products. The course covers (1) material and energy balances, (2) transport phenomena, (3)
bioreactions, and (4) bioseparations in biological processes.

Total number of Seats: 15

Students to Be Expected

It is desirable if you have strong interest in biology or biochemistry, transport phenomena, unit operations
of bioprocesses, and engineering computations. It will be very helpful if you have some knowledge in
biology or microbiology, fluid dynamics, heat transfer and mass transfer.

Prerequisites

BIOE 330 Engineering System Analysis and Design

Overview of Course Purpose

The goal of this course is to introduce principles of bioprocess engineering to undergraduate students in
bioprocess engineering major. The course is organized into four modules including the material and
energy flows, transport phenomena, bioconversion and bioseparation in biological processes. Students
who complete this course are expected to have knowledge and skills to solve engineering problems in the
biotechnical industry.

Objectives of the Course

(1) To learn material and energy balances in biological bioprocesses

(2) To learn transport phenomena such as fluid flow, mixing, heat transfer, oxygen mass transfer in
biological processes
(3) To learn bioconversion techniques including enzymes and enzyme kinetics, fermentation, cell growth
kinetics and bioreactors
(4) To learn bioseparation techniques for bioproduct recovery.

Conceptual Framework

The course of “Introduction to Bioprocess Engineering” is organized into four modules:

(1) Material and energy balances
(2) Transport phenomena
(3) Bioconversion techniques
(4) Bioseparation techniques

Major Teaching Methods

Major instruction methods will include lecture, experiment, discussion, self-study, cooperative learning
and group activity. The basic concepts and principles will be introduced to the students in lectures. Three
labs will be arranged for students to gain hands-on experience in transport phenomena, bioconversion and
bioseparation, respectively.

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Main Text Books

1. Bioprocess Engineering, Pauline M. Doran, Academic Press, ISBN: 978-0-12-220856-0

2. Handouts of lectures will be available in the university blackboard

Homework assignments, labs and exams

Homework assignments Scores (150)

We will have ten homework assignments through the whole semester. Each of them will be 15 points and
the total scores of homework assignments are 150 points.

Labs Scores (150) Due

1. Transport phenomena (fluid dynamics) 50 03/17
2. Bioconversion (fermentation) 50 04/14
3. Bioseparation (membrane separation) 50 04/29

Exams Scores (300) Date

1. Exam I 100 02/10
2. Exam II 100 03/24
3. Final Exam 100 05/05

Total points: 600

Grade Policy
Percent of Points Grade (at least)
540–600 A
480–539 B
420-479 C
360–419 D
0 – 359 F

Course Polices
• It is expected to attend all class sessions.
• Late homework and project reports will not be accepted except for institutional reasons.
• Midterm and final exams are in-class, open book exams. Makeup exams will not be given except for
institutional reasons.
• Any suspected cheating on exams, homework or projects will result in zero points for that part.
• University policy.

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 BIOE 422 Introduction to Bioprocess Engineering
Class Schedule, Spring 2009

Lecture
Meeting Date Topics
Module I: Material and Energy Balance in Biological Processes
1 01/12 Syllabus distribution -
2 01/13 Introduction to Bioprocess Engineering Chapters1-3
3 01/14 Law of mass conservation and calculations Chapter 4
01/19 University holiday, no class
4 01/20 Metabolic stoichiometry of cell growth Chapter 4
5 01/21 Stoichiometry of production formation Chapter 4
6 01/26 Law of energy conservation Chapter 5
7 01/27 Energy balance calculations without reaction Chapter 5
8 01/28 Energy balance calculations with reaction Chapter 5
9 02/02 Energy balance calculations for cell culture Chapter 5
Module II: Transport Phenomena in Biological Processes
10 02/04 Viscosity and flow characteristics of fluids Chapter 7
11 02/09 Rheological properties of fermentation broth (1) Chapter 7
12 02/11 Rheological properties of fermentation broth (2) Chapter 7
13 02/16 Mixing and mixing equipment Chapter 7
14 02/18 Mixing Effectiveness Chapter 7
15 02/23 Power Requirements for Mixing Chapter 7
16 02/24 Improvement of mixing in fermenters Chapter 7
17 02/25 Heat exchangers and mechanisms of heat transfer Chapter 8
03/02 Spring Break, no class
03/04 Spring Break, no class
18 03/09 Heat transfer calculations Chapter 8
19 03/11 Design equation of heat transfer (1) Chapter 8
20 03/16 Design equation of heat transfer (2) Chapter 8
21 03/18 Molecular diffusion Chapter 9
22 03/23 Convective mass transfer Chapter 9
23 03/25 Oxygen transfer in bioprocessing Chapter 9
24 03/30 Measurement of oxygen transfer Chapter 9
Module III: Unit Operations of Bioseparation (2.5 weeks)
25 04/01 Filtration Chapter 10

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 26 04/06 Centrifugation Chapter 10
27 04/08 Cell disruption and extraction Chapter 10
28 04/13 Adsorption Chapter 10
29 04/14 Chromatography Chapter 10
Module III: Biological Reactions
30 04/20 Reaction kinetics for biological systems (1) Chapter 11
31 04/21 Reaction kinetics for biological systems (2) Chapter 11
32 04/22 Cell growth kinetics Chapter 11
33 04/27 Heterogeneous reactions Chapter 12
34 04/28 Bioreactor engineering Chapter 13

05/02 Reading day

05/05 Final examination (8:00am-10:00am), Tuesday

Review, Exam and Lab Schedule

Lab No. Date Topics
1 02/03 Review I
2 02/10 Exam I
3 02/17 Problem Solution I
4 03/03 Spring Break, no class
5 03/10 Lab 1 (Transport phenomena lab)
6 03/17 Review II
7 03/24 Exam II
8 03/31 Problem Solution II
9 04/07 Lab 3 (Bioseparation lab)
10 04/21 Lab 3 (Bioreaction lab)
11 04/29 Review III
12 05/05 Final examination (8:00am-10:00am), Tuesday