Fermentation Engineering

Code:

M.EQ019

Acronym:

EF

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Biological Engineering

Instance: 2023/2024 - 2S

Active?	Yes
Responsible unit:	Department of Chemical Engineering
Course/CS Responsible:	Master in Chemical Engineering

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
M.EQ	16	Syllabus	1	-	6	52	162

Teaching language

Suitable for English-speaking students

Objectives

This course aims to endow students with skills to plan, dimension and analyse operations with cell reactors (microbial in particular) in suspension and cell aggregates (including fixed biomass). This course also aims to acquaint students with the analysis and dimensioning of complementary units of fermention processes.

Learning outcomes and competences

Upon completing this course the student should be able to:
• To understand the role of microorganisms in biotechnological applications
• To know the main strategies to grow microorganisms and quantify the growth
• To model the kinetics of cell growth in the presence and absence of inhibition and / or growth limitations
• To document the main technological applications of fermentation technologies
• To describe the main types of bioreactors
• To model the mode of operation of the main types of bioreactors
• To understand the key strategies of agitation and aeration of a bioreactor
• To quantify the overall coefficient of oxygen transfer in a bioreactor
• To scale the requirements of power of agitation and aeration
• To scale strategies of sterilization
• To assess the scale-up/scale-down of a bioreactor

Working method

Presencial

Program

1. Integration of bio reactors on industrial processes (examples of fermented products); fermentative processes; general characteristics of microorganisms 2. Microbial growth; quantification of cell growing; cell immobilization; microbial film) 3. Material balances (mass balances of one or more components; balances of multiple units; balance of units with recycling, bypass); bioreactors of microbial cells: classification; reactors with suspended and fixed biomass 4. Bioreactors operation (batch, fed-batch, continuous); equipment characteristics 5. Modelling and simulation of processes in microbial bioreactors: examples; software 6. Agitation and aeration (concept of mass transference; correlation of mass transference coefficient; quantification of interfacial area; absorption rate/oxygen transference; KLa correlation; Hold-up) 7. Sterilisation (sterilisation methods; kinetics of thermal death; discontinuous and continuous sterilization; air sterilization) 8. Scale variation in bioreactors: general concepts

Mandatory literature

Lee J.M. ; Biochemical Engineering. , Prentice-Hall Inc., 2001
Bailey J.E., Ollis D.F. ; Biochemical Engineering Fundamentals. , McGraw-Hill., 1987

Complementary Bibliography

Lopes A.M., Fonseca A. ; Biologia microbiana. , Universidade aberta., 1996
Ferreira W.F.C., de Sousa J.C.F. ; Microbiologia. Volume 1. , Lidel – edições Técnicas, Lda., 1998
Fonseca M.M., Teixeira J.A. ; Reactores biológicos - fundamentos e aplicações, Lidel – edições técnicas, Lda., 2007

Teaching methods and learning activities

This course will be based on the oral presentation of the theoretical themes of the course and methodologies, as well as illustrative problem solving. Students will be asked to solve problems at home, which will be graded.  Examples will be given of bioreactors, where modelling and design rules have to be applied.

Software

Microsoft Windows
Adobe Acrobat
SuperPro Designer

keywords

Natural sciences > Biological sciences > Biological engineering
Technological sciences > Engineering

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation with final exam

Assessment Components

Designation	Weight (%)
Trabalho laboratorial	20,00
Apresentação/discussão de um trabalho científico	15,00
Exame	50,00
Trabalho escrito	15,00
Total:	100,00

Amount of time allocated to each course unit

Designation	Time (hours)
Estudo autónomo	50,00
Frequência das aulas	45,00
Trabalho de investigação	20,00
Trabalho laboratorial	15,00
Apresentação/discussão de um trabalho científico	20,00
Trabalho escrito	12,00
Total:	162,00

Eligibility for exams

Perfiormance of the experimental protocols.

Calculation formula of final grade

Final mark will be calculated as follows:
Final Exam (50% of final mark).
Reports of laboratory classes - 25% of the final mark.
Three takehome problems - each 5% of final mark.
Seminar presentation and discussion - 15% of final mark.
Recurso exam Students have to reach a minimum grade of 9,5 out of 20 to complete the course. However, students have to reach a minimum grade of 8 out of 20 on the final exam.

Special assessment (TE, DA, ...)

Students with a special status have also to do all the assignments and they have to be delivered on time. Therefore, students with a special status will be assessed in the same way as ordinary students.

Classification improvement

Recurso exam. The grade of the reports from the practical classes cannot be improved.