- Docente: Davide Pinelli
- Credits: 3
- SSD: ING-IND/24
- Language: English
- Moduli: Davide Pinelli (Modulo 1) (Modulo 2)
- Teaching Mode: Traditional lectures (Modulo 1) Traditional lectures (Modulo 2)
- Campus: Bologna
- Corso: Second cycle degree programme (LM) in Pharmaceutical Biotechnology (cod. 9068)
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from Oct 02, 2025 to Oct 28, 2025
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from Oct 01, 2025 to Nov 24, 2025
Learning outcomes
At the end of the course, the student acquires basic knowledge on the methodologies and technologies of the biotechnological process industry, for the recovery and purification of biotechnological pharmaceuticals, taking into account the route of administration and final formulation of the final product.
Course contents
The course will cover the main process units used in the biotechnology industry for the recovery and purification of high-value products, with particular emphasis on the production of biopharmaceuticals:
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Cell lysis: osmotic shock, chemical and mechanical methods.
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Sedimentation: equations and equilibrium sedimentation.
- Centrifugation: description and application of different types of centrifuges; preliminary sizing of a centrifuge.
- Protein precipitation: protein solubility (salting-in and salting-out), precipitate formation, preliminary sizing of a precipitation systems.
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Filtration and membrane processes: description and use of different types of filtration and their driving forces and applications: conventional filtration, tangential flow filtration, diafiltration, dialysis, sterile filtration, and virus filtration. Classification, description, and application of membranes and their module configurations: microfiltration, ultrafiltration, flat-sheet, hollow-fiber modules, etc. Process principles and the impact of concentration polarization, gel layer formation, and fouling.
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Liquid–liquid extraction: solvent extraction and aqueous two-phase extraction. Description of equipment and main parameters used to evaluate efficiency and determine the number of stages required to achieve the desired recovery.
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Adsorption: basic principles and adsorption isotherms.
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Chromatography: process description, chromatographic techniques and separation mechanisms, stationary phases used in chromatographic columns; process parameters. Column dynamics and performance: plate theory, Van Deemter equation, adsorption chromatography theory, dynamic binding capacity, and industrial procedures.
Readings/Bibliography
R.G. Harrison, P. Todd, S. Rudge and D. Petrides, Bioseparations Science and Engineering, 2nd Ed. Oxford U. Press, NY, 2015.
P.M. Doran, Bioprocess Engineering Principles, 2nd Ed., Elsevier, 2013.
C. Gostoli, Trasporto di materia con elementi di reattoristica chimica e biochimica, Pitagora Editrice, Bologna, 2011.
Teaching methods
Class lectures and problem solving.
Assessment methods
The aim of the final examination (one for the whole course) is to evaluate the achievement of the main goals of the course, specifically:
- the capability to adopt suitable analysis and calculation techniques, which are presented during the course, in order to understand the working principles of the equipment and the basis design rules, in addition to the understanding of the chemical and physical phenomena occurring in equipment and processes of the chemical industry;
- the capability to use the outcomes obtained by the above analysis to improve the performances of equipment and processes of the chemical industry.
The final assessment will be via an oral exam. The goal of the exam is to ascertain the full understanding of both the basic principles and the design rules of equipment and processes considered during the course.
A passing grade (greater than or equal to 18/30) can only be refused once.
Teaching tools
A combination of blackboard and slide projector according to the lecture topic.
Power point presentations that will be made available on Virtuale with access to University of Bologna students.
Students with learning disorders and\or temporary or permanent disabilities: please, contact the office responsible (https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en/for-students ) as soon as possible so that they can propose acceptable adjustments. The request for adaptation must be submitted in advance (15 days before the exam date) to the lecturer, who will assess the appropriateness of the adjustments, taking into account the teaching objectives.
Office hours
See the website of Davide Pinelli
See the website of
SDGs


This teaching activity contributes to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals of the UN 2030 Agenda.