Note: This unit is an archived version! See Overview tab for delivered versions.
CHNG5804: Foundations of Biochemical Engineering (2014 - Semester 2)
| Unit: | CHNG5804: Foundations of Biochemical Engineering (6 CP) |
| Mode: | Normal-Day |
| On Offer: | Yes |
| Level: | Postgraduate |
| Faculty/School: | School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering |
| Unit Coordinator/s: |
A/Prof Dehghani, Fariba
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| Session options: | Semester 2 |
| Versions for this Unit: |
| Campus: | Camperdown/Darlington |
| Pre-Requisites: | None. |
| Prohibitions: | CHNG3804. |
| Brief Handbook Description: | Biochemical engineering is increasingly playing an important role in technology to modern society. The engineers with knowledge of various aspects of biochemical processes are tremendously valuable. The course will examine cutting edge examples of biochemical technologies across a broad range of applications relevant to chemical engineering. The specific objectives of this course are to understand the history and scope of the biotechnology industry; examine the role of biochemical engineering in the industrial application of biotechnology and its development. We will provide an understanding of the major fundamental aspects of biochemical engineering and implementing the knowledge acquired to some selected industrial applications. In addition to the above fundamentals, there will be considerable time spent during the semester on advanced topics related to biochemical engineering and associated technological developments. |
| Assumed Knowledge: | None. |
| Timetable: | CHNG5804 Timetable | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Time Commitment: |
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| T&L Activities: | Tutorial: face to face interaction, promote peers interaction and problem solving ability Project Work - own time: Self directed group learning sessions Laboratory: Each group will conduct three experiments from weeks 3 to 11. Sessions will be allocated at start of semester. Independent Study: Students are expected to spend time for ‘self directed learning’ outside the specified contact periods. |
Attributes listed here represent the key course goals (see Course Map tab) designated for this unit. The list below describes how these attributes are developed through practice in the unit. See Learning Outcomes and Assessment tabs for details of how these attributes are assessed.
| Attribute Development Method | Attribute Developed |
| Students work under guidance through the steps of designing of a biomaterial production process. Students practice analysing process requirements, calculating the relevant parameters, and optimising production costs. | Design (Level 3) |
| Students are introduced to concepts and principles of biochemical engineering and practice applying these in the context of a biomaterial production process. Students conduct background research on various biochemical production processes. | Engineering/IT Specialisation (Level 4) |
| Students practice calculating parameters of biochemical reactions. Practice in conducting experiments, writing lab reports and evaluating different experimental methods. |
Maths/Science Methods and Tools (Level 3) |
| Students conduct open-ended review of research and technical literature in specialised topics as part of design project, lab work and group presentation. | Information Seeking (Level 3) |
| Students practice written, oral and graphic communication through group presentation & lab work. | Communication (Level 3) |
| Students undertake group research and presentation task. | Project and Team Skills (Level 3) |
For explanation of attributes and levels see Engineering & IT Graduate Outcomes Table.
Learning outcomes are the key abilities and knowledge that will be assessed in this unit. They are listed according to the course goal supported by each. See Assessment Tab for details how each outcome is assessed.
Engineering/IT Specialisation (Level 4)
1. Ability to explain key concepts and principles of biochemical engineering, including the role of enzymes, immobilisation, kinetics, bioreactors, bioremediation and waste water treatment.
2. Ability to calculate critical parameters of biochemical reactions and engineering processes.
Maths/Science Methods and Tools (Level 3)
3. Ability to complete and document a lab experiment to given specifications.
Design (Level 3)
4. Ability to analyse the process involved in producing a given biomaterial and determine the steps required.
5. Ability to optimise a biomaterial production process.
Information Seeking (Level 3)
6. Ability to undertake an independent review of relevant research and technical literature.
Communication (Level 3)
7. Ability to clearly and succinctly communicate technical information in spoken, written and graphic form.
| Assessment Methods: |
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| Assessment Description: |
1. Quiz will be conducted in week and focus on understanding of key concepts and calculation of reaction parameters. 2. The Continuing Projects task requires students to work through the process of designing and optimising a biochemical production process. 3. Lab Report. Students will be required to conduct an experiment in groups and produce a report as group on the experiment conducted. They will have two weeks from the date of the experiment to produce the report. There will also be an oral test on theory and experimental procedure the week before the experiment takes place. 4. Group Presentation. Each group will select a topic relevant to advanced biochemical engineering processes by week 3. They will conduct a literature survey and and present the outcome their investigation in a 15 minute presentation. 5. The Final Exam will be an in-depth assessment of understanding of key concepts and ability to undertake essential calculations for design of biochemical production processes. |
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| Grading: |
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| Policies & Procedures: | See the policies page of the faculty website at http://sydney.edu.au/engineering/student-policies/ for information regarding university policies and local provisions and procedures within the Faculty of Engineering and Information Technologies. |
| Prescribed Text/s: |
Note: Students are expected to have a personal copy of all books listed.
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Note that the "Weeks" referred to in this Schedule are those of the official university semester calendar https://web.timetable.usyd.edu.au/calendar.jsp
| Week | Description |
| Week 1 | Introduction to microbiology |
| Week 2 | Introduction to Biochemistry |
| Week 3 | Metabolism |
| Week 4 | Enzyme and immobilisation |
| Week 5 | Week in Industry |
| Week 6 | Kinetics and modeling |
| Week 7 | Bioreactor design and operation |
| Week 8 | Mid-semester Quiz |
| Assessment Due: Quiz | |
| Week 9 | Bioreactor design |
| Week 10 | Down stream processing, attending seminar from industry guest lecturer |
| Week 11 | Bio-remediation, site visit |
| Week 12 | Bioremediation/Wastewater treatment |
| Assessment Due: Group Presentation | |
| Week 13 | Wastewater treatment, seminars for project presentation |
| STUVAC (Week 14) | This week is left free for independent study |
| Exam Period | Any Exam or Quiz worth more than 30% of the final assessment will be scheduled in this two week period. |
| Assessment Due: Final Exam |
Course Relations
The following is a list of courses which have added this Unit to their structure.
| Course | Year(s) Offered |
| Master of Professional Engineering (Chemical & Biomolecular) | 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 |
Course Goals
This unit contributes to the achievement of the following course goals:
| Attribute | Practiced | Assessed |
| Engineering/IT Specialisation (Level 4) | Yes | 79.99% |
| Maths/Science Methods and Tools (Level 3) | Yes | 5% |
| Design (Level 3) | Yes | 5% |
| Information Seeking (Level 3) | Yes | 5% |
| Communication (Level 3) | Yes | 5% |
| Professional Conduct (Level 3) | No | 0% |
| Project and Team Skills (Level 3) | Yes | 0% |
These goals are selected from Engineering & IT Graduate Outcomes Table which defines overall goals for courses where this unit is primarily offered. See Engineering & IT Graduate Outcomes Table for details of the attributes and levels to be developed in the course as a whole. Percentage figures alongside each course goal provide a rough indication of their relative weighting in assessment for this unit. Note that not all goals are necessarily part of assessment. Some may be more about practice activity. See Learning outcomes for details of what is assessed in relation to each goal and Assessment for details of how the outcome is assessed. See Attributes for details of practice provided for each goal.
