This unit entry is for students who completed this unit in 2016 only. For students planning to study the unit, please refer to the unit indexes in the the current edition of the Handbook. If you have any queries contact the managing faculty for your course or area of study.

CHE3171 - Bioprocess technology

6 points, SCA Band 2, 0.125 EFTSL

Undergraduate - Unit

Refer to the specific census and withdrawal dates for the semester(s) in which this unit is offered.

Faculty

Engineering

Organisational Unit

Department of Chemical Engineering

Coordinator(s)

Dr Lizhong He (Clayton); Assoc Professor Chan Eng Seng (Malaysia)

Offered

Clayton

Second semester 2016 (Day)

Malaysia

Second semester 2016 (Day)

Synopsis

This unit explores how scalable, commercially viable process-unit operations are harnessed by the biotechnology industry for the production of valuable biomolecules (eg recombinant proteins, peptides, vaccines, enzymes, and nucleic acids). The design, operation and economic issues surrounding large-scale biomolecular process equipment including bioreactors, filtration systems, chromatographic columns, sterilisation and aseptic operation, auxiliary equipment and the associated control systems will be considered. The wider biotechnology environment will be considered especially with regards to GxP, national and international regulatory bodies, biosafety and commercialisation.

Outcomes

At the completion of the unit students will: have an understanding of biological systems and molecules and how these are harnessed in biotechnology; have an understanding of how scalable, commercially viable process-unit operations are employed in bioprocessing for the production of biotechnology products; understand the design, operation and economic issues surrounding large-scale biomolecular process equipment including fermenters/bioreactors, filtration systems, chromatography, aseptic operation, auxiliary equipment and the control systems; be able to read, understand, critically evaluate and develop process flow diagrams; have an understanding of the wider influences on the biotechnology industry: regulatory compliance, ethics and societal expectations; have had direct exposure to the industry through talks from industry representatives and site visits.

Assessment

Assignments: 50%
Examination (3 hours): 50%
Students are required to achieve at least 45% in the total continuous assessment component (assignments, tests, mid-semester exams, laboratory reports) and at least 45% in the final examination component and an overall mark of 50% to achieve a pass grade in the unit. Students failing to achieve this requirement will be given a maximum of 45% in the unit.

Workload requirements

2 hours lectures, 3 hours tutorials/practice sessions and 7 hours of private study per week

Chief examiner(s)

Professor Karen Hapgood

Prerequisites

CHM1011 or CHM1051 or CHM1022 or CHM1052 or CHM2735 or PSC1021 or PSC1022