As fossil-based fuels and raw materials contribute to climate change, the use of renewable materials and energy as an alternative is increasingly important and common. This transition is not a luxury, but rather a necessity. We can use the unique properties of microorganisms to convert organic waste streams into biomaterials, chemicals and biofuels. This course provides the insights and tools for the design of biotechnology processes in a sustainable way. Six experienced course leaders will teach you the basics of industrial biotechnology and how to apply these to the design of fermentation processes for the production of fuels, chemicals and foodstuffs.
Throughout this course, you will be encouraged to design your own biotechnological process and evaluate its performance and sustainability. This undergraduate course includes guest lectures from industry as well as from the University of Campinas in Brazil, with over 40 years of experience in bio-ethanol production. The course is a joint initiative of TU Delft, the international BE-Basic consortium and University of Campinas.
Syllabus
Unit 1. Biotechnology for Biobased Products
Why develop a biobased economy?
Industrial biotechnology
Feedstocks — renewable sources of biomass for biobased products
Process to produce bio-PDO (1,3-Propanediol)
Benefits for society and sustainability — evaluating the effects of biobased production
Unit 2. Balances and Microbial Rates
Microorganisms and their function in nature
Functional understanding of nutrient requirements for microbial growth
Learning about the process: Broth balances
Learning about the process: Gas phase balances
Learning about the microorganism: q-rates and chemostat
Learning about the process and organism
Unit 3. The Black Box Model and Process Reaction
The process reaction
Basics of the black box model
Energy consuming and energy producing products
A PDO black box model: experiments for parameter identification
Black box models: The PDO process reaction as function of μ
PDO continuous process design: calculation of inputs and outputs using the process reaction
Aerobic PDO process: improving sustainability
Introduction to Metabolic Flux Analysis
Unit 4. Fermentation Design
Introduction to fermentation technology
The large-scale fermenter
Fermenter operation
Gas transport
Heat transport
Mixing
Basic approach to design and then optimize a PDO fermentation process
7 weeks long, 6-8 hours a week
Free Online Course (Audit)