L1: Classification of molecules Flashcards
What disciplines intersect in the “Recovery and Purification of Biological Products” course?
Chemical engineering, biotechnology, sustainability, and food science.
What level of mathematics is required for the course?
Simple calculations, with no advanced mathematics or modeling.
What are the major focuses of downstream processing (DP)?
Recovery of products from bioprocesses, which includes theory, case studies, and unit operations.
What is downstream processing (DP) in bioprocessing?
The series of steps to recover and purify a product after production.
What are the key unit operations in downstream processing?
Biomass removal, product concentration, and product purification.
What role do flowsheets play in DP?
They visually map out the steps needed to recover and purify bioproducts.
What types of molecules are differentiated in bioproducts?
Low molecular weight (LMW) and high molecular weight (HMW) molecules.
What is an example of a high-cost, low-molecular-weight bioproduct?
Pharmaceuticals like sitagliptin.
What unit operations are used for biomass removal?
Filtration and centrifugation.
What is the purpose of product concentration in DP?
To separate materials with properties different from the product, facilitating easy separation.
Name a common unit operation used in product concentration.
Ultrafiltration
What is the main goal of product purification in DP?
To remove impurities that have similar properties to the product.
Which method is often used for product purification?
Chromatography
Why are bioprocesses considered sustainable?
They use renewable feedstocks and operate under mild conditions.
Define “yield” in downstream processing.
Yield is the ratio of active substance at the end of the process to that at the start.
What is the purity-yield trade-off?
Higher purity often results in a lower overall yield.
Why is downstream processing challenging?
Due to water content, contaminants, and product similarity to other materials.
What stability factors are critical for protein products?
Stability is highly dependent on pH, temperature, and ionic strength.
What is the first step in a typical biocatalysis flowsheet?
Introduction of feedstock into the reactor.
What is the function of centrifugation in DP?
It removes solid biomass from liquid components.
What are UN Sustainable Development Goals highlighted in the course?
Goals 8, 9, 12, and 13, focusing on sustainable production and innovation.