Bioprocess Engineering and Technology

This book introduces the reader to basics in both engineering and life sciences required for designing an optimal bioprocess system. Bioprocess Engineering and Technology: Fundamentals integrates life science topics such as cell physiology, microbiology, biochemistry, and molecular biology with essential engineering principles, specifically targeting the needs of both engineers and life science experts. It covers engineering fundamentals relevant to bioprocess engineering, including reaction engineering, fluid mechanics, heat and mass transfer, and the analytical techniques involved in bioprocess operations.

To effectively understand bioprocesses, both life scientists and process engineers must approach biological systems with a cross-disciplinary perspective. Therefore, the book begins by exploring key topics like microbiology, biochemistry, cellular metabolism, bioenergetics, molecular biology, and cellular physiology – areas that form the foundation for understanding the role of biocatalysts in product accumulation. The subsequent chapters focus on engineering principles that govern biochemical reactions, fluid, heat, and mass transport phenomena, followed by an in-depth discussion on various analytical tools involved in bioprocess engineering.

This book is designed to provide a comprehensive foundation for senior undergraduate and postgraduate students, as well as researchers in bioprocess engineering, particularly for applications in industrial-scale processes.

Biswanath Bhunia is currently working as Assistant Professor in the Department of Bioengineering, National Institute of Technology Agartala, India, with over 12 years of experience in the field of Biochemical Engineering and Biotechnology. He earned his PhD from National Institute of Technology Durgapur, where he specialized on the production and characterization of microbial enzymes, especially alkaline proteases. Development of sustainable bioprocesses for various bioproducts using microbial platforms is the focus of his lab. In order to create a cleaner and greener future, his group is also working to remove emerging pollutants from the environment using principles of biochemical engineering. He is also interested in the pathway analysis of complex diseases based on multiple biological networks. He has authored over 100 peer-reviewed journal articles, contributed over 20 book chapters, and co-holds a patent in enzyme production.

Navneet Joshi is currently working as Assistant Professor (Biotechnology) in the Department of Bioscience, SLAS, Mody University of Science and Technology, Lakshmangarh, Sikar, Rajasthan, India. He did his Ph.D. at University of Rajasthan India on microbial bioprocess biotechnology/Agri- Agri-biotechnology and molecular biology with special reference to molecular characterization of industrial isolates.

Muthusivaramapandian Muthuraj is a bioprocess engineer, currently working as Assistant Professor in the Department of Bioengineering at the National Institute of Technology Agartala, India, with over ten years of experience spanning academia and industry. He holds a Ph.D. in Biosciences and Bioengineering from IIT Guwahati, where he specialised in various biochemical and system biology approaches to augment productivity of biomolecules. His prior industrial role at Sterling Biotech involved upstream bioprocess development and scale-up for bioactive compounds like coenzyme Q10 and hyaluronic acid. His research interests include algal biofuel production, bioprocess engineering, and metabolic engineering. He has authored over 30 peer-reviewed journal articles, contributed over 10 book chapters, and co-holds a patent in sustainable algal biomass production.