Term Project

Course Description:

Engineering aspects of microbial processes and of conversions with immobilized cells or enzymes. Topics include enzyme technology, immobilized enzymes, sterilization, aseptic techniques, mass transfer, bioprocess development, scale up, product isolation. Graduate and undergraduate courses usually meet jointly but tests and assignments differ. Three credit hours.

Textbook:

None, but the following textbook belongs in the collection of serious students of biochemical engineering:
Blanch, H. W. and Clark, D. S., "Biochemical Engineering" (available at RPI Bookstore).

Suggested Supplemental Reading

  1. L. Stryer, "Biochemistry", 3rd Edition, W. H. Freeman & Co., New York.

  2. C. K. Mathews and K. E. van Holde, "Biochemistry", Benjamin/Cummings Publishing Co., Redwood City, CA.

  3. B. Alberts et al., "Molecular Biology of the Cell", Garland Publishing, Inc., New York.

  4. R. Y. Stainer et al., "Introduction to the Microbial World", Prentice-Hall, Inc., Englewood Cliffs, NJ.

  5. R. H. Abeles, P. A. Frey, and W. P. Jencks, "Biochemistry", Jones and Bartlett Publishers, Boston.

  6. S. F. Aiba et al., "Biochemical Engineering", 2nd Edition, Academic Press, New York.

  7. Enzyme Engineering - A series of 12 volumes.

  8. H. R. Bungay "BASIC Biochemical Engineering", 2nd. edition, BiLine Assoc.,1992. Text errata and updates

Goals:

Background for additional courses in biotechnology.

Prerequisites:

Either microbiology or some chemical engineering.

Computer Usage:

Approximately 3 hours per week using RPI mainframe, personal computers, and the world internet.

Laboratory Projects:

None, but some computer exercises simulate lab topics.

Customized Course in Biochemical Engineering

Course history

The major thrust for this semester is to construct your own reference for biochemical engineering with the power of the personal computer as a teaching tool. Interactive computerized tutorials, teaching games, simulations, animated figures, and problems allow you to optimize the pace of learning. To avoid merely "turning pages" as with much of the material on the internet, there should be quizzes, animations, and requests for specifications for drawing figures so that the user participates actively.

Grading

Quizzes and homeworks count equally. 85 %
Term project. 15 %

In past years, 2 or 3 lowest grades were tossed out before averaging the others. This semester, the number thrown out will depend on the total number.

Grades are in a spreadsheet in the T.A.'s public directory. By law, grades cannot be posted in the open. To have your grades in this public spreadsheet, send written permission, the alias to conceal your identity, and your signature to the T.A. If you decide not to be included, you will have to set up an appointment with the T.A. to get your grades.