Industrial Biochemistry

This module introduces students to the industrial exploitation of biochemical systems (microorganisms and their associated processes) to make products with commercial value. The course encompasses production of microbial cells themselves, products from cells (drugs, chemicals and foods), and the use of microbial cells to catalyze particular reactions in large volumes. This module covers an introduction to industrial microorganisms and products, growth and product formation in biocatalysis, characteristics of large-scale fermentations, fermentation scale-up, energy production (ethanol, biogas etc), conversion of sunlight into biomass (bioreactors and biophotolysis), bioextractive metallurgy (microbial leaching, metal accumulation and complexation)