From Chemical Engineering License Review, Second Edition
In last several years, principles and techniques of chemical engineering and biochemistry have been applied in the design, operation, and analysis of processes for the production of a variety of materials such as antibiotics and industrial organic chemicals using living microorganisms as catalysts. This has given rise to a special field known as biochemical engineering. It involves the application of the principles of biochemistry, cell biology, and chemical engineering for successful design of biochemical process plants. This chapter covers some basic aspects of biochemical engineering. More details can be found in the references [1], [2], [3] provided at the end of this chapter.
Microbiology and Structure of Cells
Microbiology is the study of living organisms which cannot be seen by a naked eye. Generally most microorganisms have a diameter of 1 ?m or less and yet have their own most sophisticated mechanisms including information and control systems. The cell theory first proposed by Schleiden and Schwann states that all living systems consist of cells and their products. The various types of cells are classified into two groups based on their cellular structures: procaryotes and eucaryotes.
Procaryotes These are single-cell organisms and do not contain a nucleus enclosed within a membrane. Their shapes may be spherical, rod-like or spiral. Their dimensions may range from 0.5 to 3 ?m. Individual cell structure is as follows: The cell is surrounded by a rigid wall which gives it its structural strength. Inside this wall is the thinner cell...
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Overview Biochemical engineering is a vibrant branch of chemical engineering with a significant current presence and even greater promise for the future. In terms of development, it can be compared...
Introduction The inclusion of living systems into chemical processes creates the area of biochemical processes. As such, the life sciences must be combined with chemistry, physics, and the...
12.2 Introduction Biochemistry, the study of the chemical basis of life, and biophysics, the study of the physical basis of life, are both exciting, active fields of research. There are a number of...
INTRODUCTION There are many innovative biological technologies for the treatment of wastewaters and sludges. Four such technologies that have now become widely accepted worldwide are considered...
Overview Contemporary scientists seem to be increasingly shifting their attention from the study of the composition of matter to the study of the functional characteristics of nature's tangled...
