Transcript The contribution of chemical engineering to biotechnology Professor

The contribution of chemical
engineering to biotechnology
Professor Howard Chase FREng
Professor of Biochemical Engineering
Department of Chemical Engineering
Definitions
• Biotechnology - “the application of scientific and engineering principles to the
processing of materials by biological agents to provide goods and services”
• Biochemical engineering - “the contribution of chemical engineering to
biotechnology”.
Microbiology
Genetics
Biochemistry
Protein
engineering
Genetic
engineering
BIOTECHNOLOGY
Biochemical
Engineering
Chemical
engineering
Botany
Zoology
Medical
sciences
Where can biotechnology be applied?
• All applications benefit from an input of chemical engineering principles
although the scales may not be the same as that encountered in the
traditional oil and chemical industries. Some scales are smaller (e.g.
healthcare) and some larger (environmental).
Biological cells: the source of sustainable molecules and
more
• H2, CH4, O2, CO2
• Ethanol, butanol, acetone, propane-diol, biodiesel
• Organic acids, amino acids, flavourings
• Pharmaceuticals (e.g. antibiotics
• Biopolymers (plastics and rheology)
• Proteins: enzymes and therapeutics
• Gene therapy products (packaged nucleic acid sequences)
• Vaccines
• Microbial cells (environmental clean-up; waste treatment)
• Human cells (stem cells; tissue replacements)
• Hybrid products: bio/electrical/optical/mechanical (e.g. biosensors)
Why not chemical engineering? The chemical engineer’s tool-box
• Material and energy balances
• Thermodynamics and equilibria
• Separation principles and selectivity
• Heat and mass transfer
• Modelling
• Measurement techniques
• Processes
• Microstructure engineering
• Product design
Some outcomes for biotechnology
• Bioreactor design and optimization (fermenter mixing and aeration;
biocatalysis)
• Separation and purification of (complex) biomolecules/molecular entities
• Controlled drug release; targeted drug delivery
• Scaffolds for tissue culture
• P &ID, Hazop/Hazan, Batch process scheduling; debottle-necking
• Systems’ biology
Biotechnology is not new to Chemical Engineering @ Cambridge
• Peter King: 1953 photosynthethic Chlorella with PVD
• John Davidson: 1980 member of committee for Spinks Report
• Deep shaft waste treatment processes & ICI’s Pruteen bioreactor
• Nigel Kenney: Packed bed processes for antibiotic purification.
• Nigel Slater: Maintenance of sterility in valves and pipes attached to
fermenters
What has this department done recently? Healthcare
• Purification of molecules and biological assemblies produced in
biological systems
• Targeted delivery of pharmaceuticals to cells.
• Purification of viruses and constructs for gene therapy.
• Separation of different types of human blood cells.
• Bioreactors for the growth of stem cells
• Separation of differentiated from non-differentiated stem cells.
Energy and the environment
• Biodiesel production from vegetable oils and algae
• Gasification of sewage sludge
• Oil production by pyrolysis of cellulosic materials.
• Reduced sludge production in activated sludge waste water treatment
• Biofilm reactors for degrading toxic compounds in aqueous wastes
Case study. Expanded bed adsorption for protein purification.
• A quasi-packed bed through which particulates in nonclarified feeds can pass
Umf < U < Ut
 ~ 0.4
U
Packed Bed
Blocks with particulates
 ~ 0.7-0.8
Fluidised Bed
Well mixed
Poor adsorption
Segregation
of beads via
distributions
of size and
density
Expanded Bed
Simplified Downstream Processing Flow Sheets
Conventional Process :
50-80% total production costs
cascade of 5-6 stages
decreasing yield with increasing number of stages
Expanded Bed Adsorption :
clarification, concentration and purification in
one stage
increase in yield through reduction in stages
The expanded bed in action: purification of enzymes from yeast
cells
Expanding the bed
Applying the feedstock
Washing to remove particulates
Desorbing the desired enzyme
The future of biotechnology: a personal vision
• New therapeutics; gene therapy; personalized medicine; replacement
organs
• Novel diagnosis
• Renewable feedstocks for the (petro)-chemical industries
• Direct biological energy production; photosynthesis
• Biological information storage: DNA versus silicon
• Improved environmental clean-up
The future of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology
Chemical engineering has a pivotal role in the delivery of biotechnological
discovery and innovation for the benefit of society
Biotechnology will continue to provide intriguing challenges for chemical
engineers as the range, variety and extent of applications proliferates.
Chemical engineers have the appropriate ‘wherewithal’ to meet and
surpass those expectations.
The right combination at the right time in the right place.