ENN537 Bioproduct Separation and Purification

Unit Outline: Semester 2 2024, Gardens Point, Internal

Overview

Separation and purification technologies are critical for recovery and commercialisation of bioproducts from industrial fermentation processes. This unit introduces key industrial separation and purification technologies, such as extraction, adsorption, membrane filtration, and chromatography technologies, briefs recent advances in new materials and designs to improve separation efficiency. This unit also explains the principles of design and selection of separation and purification technologies for specific bioproducts, including alcohols, organic acids, protein/enzymes and pharmaceuticals. Product storage and stabilisation strategies for some specific bioproducts such as protein and enzymes are also introduced.  

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit you will be able to:

1. Design separation and purification processes for specific bioproducts.
2. Solve operational problems based on an in-depth understanding of the working principles of separation and purification technologies.
3. Explain the economic and environmental impacts of separation and purification technologies.

Content

Learning Approaches

In this unit you can expect to experience the following timetabled activities:

• Formal interactive lectures (2 hours per week) from experienced professional engineers and scientist cover the main concepts with real world applications and examples to give you insight into bioproduct separation and purification knowledge, skills and attributes.    
• Tutorials (2 hours per week) in a flexible learning space will provide hands-on experience and insight into the principles of bioproduct separation and purification to support the topics covering in the lectures.
• Hands on Practicals (2 practicals, 3 hours each) in laboratory space guided by experienced demonstrators to perform laboratory exercises in a group to analyse or understand the concepts covered in the lectures and be able to interpret the data to critically reflect the results obtained.

To complement the timetabled activities and complete your learning in this unit, you will be provided online resources and activities the unit's Canvas website:

• Informative recap videos as extra problem-solving resources to enhance your problem-solving approach, skills and knowledge.
• Basic materials such as notes, handouts, and Echo360 recordings.

You are expected to:

• Engage with timetabled activities on campus and ask questions. You should follow the weekly guide and announcements from Canvas on the online materials that should be completed prior to attending timetabled activities on campus.
• Engage with the online materials for developing your understanding of fundamental concepts. These will be available on the unit Canvas site. You will receive regular email announcements regarding release of these resources.
• Manage your time to engage with online resources outside of timetabled activities. 
• Engage with your peers during the interactive workshops and the teamwork assessment tasks. 

Feedback on Learning and Assessment

You will receive informal verbal feedback on your progress in this unit during workshops and discussions throughout the semester. Written feedback will be provided with each summative assessment throughout the semester.

Assessment

Overview

Assessment in this unit has been designed to give you the opportunity to show your learning against the unit learning outcomes.

Rubrics with criteria and standards will be used to evaluate the unit learning outcomes of your work.

The assessment consists of ongoing formative and summative assessments that are based on independent and group work. The assessment items allow you to demonstrate your technical knowledge in the topic, observation of real world and communication skills as well as laboratory practical skills.

Unit Grading Scheme

7- point scale

Assessment Tasks

Assessment: Laboratory report

You will engage in laboratory experiment and submit a written report of your observation. You will demonstrate your ability to critically analyse your laboratory data using the knowledge you have acquired from the lectures and your reading of scientific literature. The report will be individual as a single final document.

This assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.

Assessment: Bioproduct Separation and Purification Review and Presentation

Your study group will select a topic and conduct a literature review to identify significant opportunities and challenges in the area of bioproduct separation and purification and propose solutions that will either address the existing challenge or have the potential to improve an existing process/product. Your group will present the findings in a 20 min presentation.

Assessment: Final exam

Final examination is mainly problem-solving questions and conceptual questions with both familiar and unfamiliar questions.

Academic Integrity

Students are expected to engage in learning and assessment at QUT with honesty, transparency and fairness. Maintaining academic integrity means upholding these principles and demonstrating valuable professional capabilities based on ethical foundations.

Failure to maintain academic integrity can take many forms. It includes cheating in examinations, plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, and submitting an assessment item completed by another person (e.g. contract cheating). It can also include providing your assessment to another entity, such as to a person or website.

You are encouraged to make use of QUT’s learning support services, resources and tools to assure the academic integrity of your assessment. This includes the use of text matching software that may be available to assist with self-assessing your academic integrity as part of the assessment submission process.

Further details of QUT’s approach to academic integrity are outlined in the Academic integrity policy and the Student Code of Conduct. Breaching QUT’s Academic integrity policy is regarded as student misconduct and can lead to the imposition of penalties ranging from a grade reduction to exclusion from QUT.

Requirements to Study

Requirements

Completion of Laboratory and Workshop HSE Induction – Faculty of Engineering

Resources

Resource Materials

Reference book(s)

Downstream Industrial Biotechnology: Recovery and Purification; Edited by Michael C. Flickinger, John Wiley & Sons, 2013.

Bioseparations Science and Engineering, Edited by Roger G. Harrison, et al., Oxford University Press, 2015.

Risk Assessment Statement

You will undertake lectures and tutorials in the classrooms and lecture theatres. As such, there are no extraordinary workplace health and safety issues associated with these components of the unit.

Any practical sessions in the laboratory must be done under the supervision of the lecturer and may be supported by technical staff. In any laboratory practicals you are expected to wear closed shoes, put on proper PPEs when necessary.

Before the commencement of any practical sessions, you will undergo a health and safety induction and complete required online training program. If you do not complete the required safety induction you will be denied access to laboratories.

Note: You will be required to undertake practical sessions in the laboratory, and you may be required to visit an industrial site under the supervision of QUT lecturers. If you do not have a general safety induction certificate or sticker you will be denied access to laboratories and/or visit to industrial site. In any laboratory practicals you will be advised further regarding the requirements for safe and responsible behaviour and will be required to wear appropriate protective items (e.g. closed shoes or gumboot shoes).

Course Learning Outcomes

EN54 Master of Advanced Manufacturing

1. Demonstrate and apply advanced and specialist theory-based discipline knowledge and concepts as they relate to contemporary practice in Advanced Manufacturing
   Relates to: Laboratory report, Final exam
2. Employ advanced specialist technical skills, analysis approaches, design, and data to the solution of problems in Advanced Manufacturing, critically evaluating solutions against practice-informed performance and whole-of-life requirements
   Relates to: Laboratory report, Bioproduct Separation and Purification Review and Presentation, Final exam
3. Implement professional communication and collaborative skills while engaging with stakeholders, exchanging ideas, and presenting complex information to specialist and non-specialist audiences
   Relates to: Laboratory report, Bioproduct Separation and Purification Review and Presentation
4. Demonstrate ethical and socially responsible practice, recognising the importance of personal accountability, and reflective practice
   Relates to: Laboratory report
5. Enact a holistic approach to sustainability in Advanced Manufacturing that embodies the principals of efficient, green, circular, and clean
   Relates to: Bioproduct Separation and Purification Review and Presentation
6. Demonstrate an ability to research and apply established theories and plan and execute a substantial research-based project, cultivating an attitude of engineering innovation and creativity
   Relates to: Bioproduct Separation and Purification Review and Presentation

EN56 Master of Engineering Technology

1. Demonstrate and apply advanced and specialist discipline knowledge, concepts and practices as they relate to contemporary practice in Engineering Technology
   Relates to: Laboratory report, Bioproduct Separation and Purification Review and Presentation, Final exam
2. Analyse and evaluate Engineering Technology problems using technical approaches informed by contemporary practice and leading edge research to achieve innovative, critically informed solutions
   Relates to: Laboratory report, Bioproduct Separation and Purification Review and Presentation, Final exam
3. Effectively communicate Engineering Technology problems, related complex data and information, and solutions in contemporary professional formats for diverse purposes and audiences
   Relates to: Laboratory report, Bioproduct Separation and Purification Review and Presentation
4. Demonstrate ethically and socially responsible practice, recognising the importance of personal accountability and reflective practice when working in individual and collaborative modes
   Relates to: Bioproduct Separation and Purification Review and Presentation

EN66 Graduate Certificate in Bioprocess Engineering

1. Demonstrate and apply advanced theory-based discipline knowledge and concepts as they relate to contemporary practice in Bioprocess Engineering
   Relates to: Laboratory report, Final exam
2. Employ advanced technical skills, analysis approaches, design, and data to the solution of problems in Bioprocess Engineering, critically evaluating solutions against practice-informed performance and whole-of-life requirements
   Relates to: Laboratory report, Bioproduct Separation and Purification Review and Presentation, Final exam
3. Implement advanced communication and collaborative skills while engaging with stakeholders, exchanging ideas, and presenting complex information to specialist and non-specialist audiences
   Relates to: Laboratory report, Bioproduct Separation and Purification Review and Presentation
4. Demonstrate ethical and socially responsible practice, recognising the importance of personal accountability, and reflective practice
   Relates to: Laboratory report
5. Enact a holistic approach to sustainability in Bioprocess Engineering that embody the principals of efficient, green, circular, and clean
   Relates to: Bioproduct Separation and Purification Review and Presentation

EN74 Master of Advanced Manufacturing with Project Management

1. Demonstrate and apply advanced and specialist theory-based discipline knowledge, concepts, methods and practices as they relate to contemporary practice in Advanced Manufacturing and Project Management domains
   Relates to: Laboratory report, Final exam
2. Employ advanced specialist technical skills, analysis approaches, design, and data to the solution of problems in Advanced Manufacturing and Project Management domains, critically evaluating solutions and practice-informed performance to deliver whole of life requirements and strategic objectives
   Relates to: Laboratory report, Bioproduct Separation and Purification Review and Presentation, Final exam
3. Implement professional communication and collaborative skills while engaging with stakeholders, exchanging ideas, and presenting complex information to specialist and non-specialist audiences in Advanced Manufacturing and Project Management domains
   Relates to: Laboratory report, Bioproduct Separation and Purification Review and Presentation
4. Demonstrate ethical and socially responsible practice, recognising the importance of personal accountability, and reflective practice, risk-informed judgements, and leadership
   Relates to: Laboratory report
5. Enact a holistic approach to sustainability in Advanced Manufacturing that embodies the principals of efficient, green, circular, and clean
   Relates to: Bioproduct Separation and Purification Review and Presentation
6. Demonstrate an ability to research and apply established theories and plan and execute a substantial research-based project, cultivating an attitude of engineering innovation and creativity
   Relates to: Bioproduct Separation and Purification Review and Presentation

EN77 Master of Advanced Manufacturing with Data Analytics

1. Demonstrate and apply advanced and specialist theory-based discipline knowledge, concepts, methods and practices as they relate to contemporary practice in Advanced Manufacturing and Data Analytics domains
   Relates to: Laboratory report, Final exam
2. Employ advanced specialist technical skills, analysis approaches, design, and data to the solution of problems in Advanced Manufacturing and Data Analytics domains, critically evaluating solutions and practice-informed performance to deliver whole of life requirements and strategic objectives
   Relates to: Laboratory report, Bioproduct Separation and Purification Review and Presentation, Final exam
3. Implement professional communication and collaborative skills while engaging with stakeholders, exchanging ideas, and presenting complex information to specialist and non-specialist audiences in Advanced Manufacturing and Data Analytics domains
   Relates to: Laboratory report, Bioproduct Separation and Purification Review and Presentation
4. Demonstrate ethical and socially responsible practice, recognising the importance of personal accountability, and reflective practice, risk-informed judgements, and leadership
   Relates to: Laboratory report
5. Enact a holistic approach to sustainability in Advanced Manufacturing that embodies the principals of efficient, green, circular, and clean
   Relates to: Bioproduct Separation and Purification Review and Presentation
6. Demonstrate an ability to research and apply established theories and plan and execute a substantial research-based project, cultivating an attitude of engineering innovation and creativity
   Relates to: Bioproduct Separation and Purification Review and Presentation

EN79 Graduate Diploma in Engineering Studies

1. Demonstrate and apply advanced discipline knowledge, concepts and practices as they relate to contemporary Engineering practice
   Relates to: Laboratory report, Final exam
2. Analyse and evaluate Engineering problems using technical approaches informed by contemporary practice and leading edge research to achieve innovative, critically informed solutions
   Relates to: Laboratory report, Bioproduct Separation and Purification Review and Presentation, Final exam
3. Apply innovative, systematic approaches to plan, design, deliver and manage Engineering projects in a way that assures sustainable outcomes over their whole lifecycle
   Relates to: Bioproduct Separation and Purification Review and Presentation, Final exam
4. Effectively communicate Engineering problems, related complex data and information, and solutions in contemporary professional formats for diverse purposes and audiences
   Relates to: Laboratory report, Bioproduct Separation and Purification Review and Presentation
5. Demonstrate ethically and socially responsible practice, recognising the importance of personal accountability and reflective practice when working in individual and collaborative modes
   Relates to: Laboratory report