5. Biochemical Engineering

Biochemical Engineering is the basis of the commercial exploitation of microbial, animal, and plant cells, using these compounds of cells and enzymes to make a product. The conditions in which ‘nature-based’ substances can be used are different to synthetic materials, like those used in the petrochemical industry, which requires engineers to rethink the engineering solution when trying to use alternative feedstocksAny substance or material used as an input to a system to be converted into a product.

As the world moves away from petrochemical substances, biochemical processes offer a sustainable way for businesses to continue producing everyday products.

Biochemical Engineering also plays a role in traditional industries, such as the food sector, where fermentation has been used for thousands of years to produce foods and beverages which are still enjoyed to this day!

This module will introduce some essential concepts used in biochemical engineering, such as microorganism growth, explore some industrial processes which use the principles of biochemistry, and also examine the design of biological reactors.