Introduction

Biochemical reactions are characterized by the use of

enzymes or whole cells (micro-organisms) to carry out specific conversions Example:

Fermentation of fruit juices to make alcohol
Subsequent oxidation to vinegar

Living organisms are capable of carrying out a wide

range of transformations which can often be manipulated by controlling their environment or by changing genetic constitution. The primary interest of organism is to replicate themselves

Introduction
Major areas of biological sciences that are

significance to the process engineer.

Introduction
Applications of biological processes will considering

systematics, genetics, biochemistry and physiology. Outline of a biological process:

Introduction
Important aspects to reactors: Nature and processing of raw materials Choice and manipulation of the catalysts Control of reaction process from which the product must be recovered. Bioprocesses are autocatalytic reactions. Cells is a

group of proteins that have catalytic properties (Enzymes). Enzymes, similar to inorganic catalyst in some ways and very powerful catalysts that capable to enhance the overall rate of reactions.

Introduction
Enzymes are water-soluble but are frequently bound to

membranes within the cells or retained in the microbe by the cell walls. Enzymes usually retain their catalytic activity when isolated from the cell. Bioreactors as an alternatives to conventional chemical reactors, e.g in pharmaceutical industry, microorganism & enzymes can be used to produce specific streo-isomers selectivity.

Bioreactors
Advantages

high selectivity Feasible for multistage separation in purification Reduced potential pollution Increased energy recovery and reduced greenhouse emissions Lower long-term maintenance cost

Disadvantages

Product may formed in dilute aqueous solution Low rates Rheological properties that difficult to handle Low interfacial tensions difficulties in physical separation of product

Biological vs Chemical Reaction

Biological Products

Cells
Each components are divided by bilayer phospholipids membranes.

Transportation of reactants & products to & from cells produces concentration gradients because of transport resistances within & without the cell.

Cells as Reactors
Organism must grow & reproduce itself using resources

from the surrounding environment. Living systems capture & utilize energy from the environment to produce highly ordered structures to give rise to autocatalytic processes. This allows the natural optimization of living processes for the evolution of new biological information structures and new life forms. The complexity of the bacterial cell is thus a match for any chemical plant in the power and sophistication of its chemistry.

Cells as Reactors
The basic of life lies in chemistry creates a variety of

novel solutions to a set of problem associated with life. These includes:

The acquisition of food provide energy and nutrients that

make up the structure of the cell Conversion of the food into the structure of the living system Retention of information chemical structures may be reproduced when required Introduction of variation in the biological information - to encourage the adaptation of the organisms to the environment

Composition of Cells
6 major elements, make up 90% of weight

Composition of Cells
Most of the elemental composition of cells is found in

proteins, nucleic acid and lipids. Water is the major component of cells with 8090% of the total weight Most of the protein present in the form of enzymes. Nucleic acid are found in various forms of Ribonucleic Acid (RNA) and Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) Polysaccharides and lipids are associated with wall & membrane structures & also act as energy-storage materials within the cell.

Composition of Cells

Proteins
Nucleic acid in the form of DNA forms the stored

structural and regulatory material for organism. Protein is formed mainly of polymerised amino-acids. The primary structure is non-repetitive & require a chemical template stored in DNA molecule for its production. Proteins have catalytic activity (enzymes) whilst other proteins have roles in storage, trasportation, antibodies, chemical messengers (hormones) & in structure.

Nucleic Acid
Nucleotides are the basic monomers of nucleic acid. It

is made from heterocyclic nitrogen compounds, purines & pyrimidines. Types of nucleic acid:
Ribonucleic acid (RNA) contain ribose with bases of

cytosine, adenine, guanine and a unique base uracil. Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) contain deoxyribone with bases of cytosine, adenine, guanine and a unique base thymidine.

The differences in the base structure affect the

secondary structures of these polymers.

RNA & DNA

Lipids & Membranes

Lipids major components of membrane.
Complex structure of fatty acids esterified with

alcohols to form glycerides Sterols is also important lipid components Hydophobic structure provide entry & exit ports from the interior of cell

Carbohydrates
Major structural components of the cell walls.
Cellulose is the most commom form. Others hemicellulose (hexose & pentose), pectins

and chitin. Also act as energy storage materials in living systems. Glycogen & starch are the major carbohydrate stores in animals & plants, respectively.

Cell walls
Derived from carbohydrates and polymeric materials.
Provide the cell with mechanical strength, provide

rigid structure againts which the membrane located. The variable structure will change according to environment and surface properties are determined by the cell wall materials. The wall is negatively charges & can act as an ion exchanger.

Bio-energy & Metabolic Pathways

Biological combustion
Oxygen transport Photosynthesis Genetic code

Rates & Kinetics of Biological Processes

A ns S n A A n P P
Abiological species i.e organism or cells Ssubstrate or food supply Pmetabolic product
nA>1 nA=1 organism growth (reproduction) metabolism

Kinetics of Reproduction

A S 2A P

r kCAC S

If excess nutrient CS CSO

r kCACSO

In batch reactor

dC A kC A CSO dt
kCso t

C A C Ao e

exponential growth Natural for any living system to reproduce Desired exponential growth?? Undesired exponential growth???

If growth is limited by food supply, S and A can be related by

C A C Ao C SO CS nA 1 nS

Model for steady state population; birth and death

rB k BC A

k B kCSO

rD kDC A

What is the reaction rate model for population which includes birth and death?

Metabolism
A is not reproducing, therefore nA=1

A S A P S P

r kCAC S

CA is constant, C A C AO

In batch reactor,

dCS kC Ao CS dt
kCA ot

C S C So e
CSO CS C P

Material balance

C P CSo (1 e

kCA ot

Enzyme Kinetics
Kinetics is the study of the rated of chemical reactions.
The rates of biological reactions are greatly increased

by enzyme catalysts. Enzyme kinetics is based upon the elementary kinetics.