- Docente: Antonio Gonzalez Vara Rodriguez
- Credits: 4
- SSD: CHIM/11
- Language: Italian
- Teaching Mode: Traditional lectures
- Campus: Bologna
- Corso: Second cycle degree programme (LM) in Molecular and industrial biotechnology (cod. 8022)
Learning outcomes
During the course, the student will gain skills in the field of Applied Industrial Microbiology by means of specific and methodological examples about organisms and processes of industrial relevance.
Course contents
I. Historical introduction to the Industrial Microbiology.
II. Fermentation unitary operations.
III. Types of industrial fermentations.
Batch fermentation.
Fed-batch fermentation.
Continuous fermentation.
Cross-over (feedback) continuous fermentation.
IV. Microorganisms growth kinetics.
Growth phases in a batch fermentation.
Specific growth rate and generation time.
Techniques for biomass concentration measurement.
Bioconversion yield rates.
Kinetics of growth limiting substrate consumption.
Monod's model.
Growth in complex media.
Influence of environmental factors on microbial growth. Effect of temperature, pH and high nutrient concentration.
Synthesis of growth linked products.
Synthesis of partially growth linked products.
Synthesis of non growth linked products.
Primary and secondary metabolites.
Kinetics of fed-batch fermentations.
Industrial applications.
Kinetics of continuous fermentations.
Mass balances in continuous fermentations.
Types of continuous fermentations: chemostat and turbidostat.
Industrial applications.
Kinetics of feedback continuous fermentations.
Mass balances in feedback continuous fermentations.
V. Unitary Operations during and ending the fermentation process.
VI. Main types of bioreactors.
Stirred tank reactors.
Pneumatically agitated bioreactors.
Mixed bioreactors: Vogelbusch.
VII. Down stream.
Separation of solid phase.
Primary isolation.
Purification.
End product elaboration.
VIII. Main groups of industrial microorganisms.
Lattobacillus.
Bacillus.
Propionibacterium and Corynebacterium.
Enterobacteria.
Pseudomonadaceae.
Acetobacteraceae.
Actinomyces.
Eumycetes.
IX. Examples of industrial processes for the production of primary and secondary metabolites.
Antibiotics production.
Lactic acid production.
Bioethanol production.
X. Course conclusions. Ethics and aesthetics of the scientist's profession. The Prof. Peter Duesberg case: heterodox honesty versus orthodox fallacy.
Readings/Bibliography
No further specific books are needed. Updated didactic texts will be sent by the professor to the students by e-mail.
Teaching methods
The course consists in 32 hour of lessons. Informal conversations will be kept during the course about different subjects within the field of Industrial Microbiology and general Biotechnology aimed to approach the students to a practical view of biotechnological disciplines by observing how they are used in the real life.
Assessment methods
Two exams, written and oral, will be held at the end of the course. The final mark will be that obtained during the written first exam. The oral exam is aimed to explore the student's knowledge and comprehension about the discipline, and eventually, to improve the mark received during the written exam.
These final exams are aimed to evaluate the how the didactic objectives have been reached:
· Knowledge on general basis of Industrial Microbiology.
· To know how to develop, optimize and carry out an industrial process for the fermentative production of metabolites.
Teaching tools
Overhead projector, Power Point presentations.
Office hours
See the website of Antonio Gonzalez Vara Rodriguez