Chemical and Biological Reaction Engineering Fundamentals

Chemical and Biological Reaction Engineering is the core discipline for optimizing industrial chemical manufacturing and complex bioprocesses. This course provides a comprehensive, text-based introduction to the foundational principles governing reaction rates, stoichiometry, and reactor selection. You will gain the analytical skills required to model, predict, and control conversion in both traditional chemical systems and living biological systems. ### What you'll learn * Understand the principles of stoichiometry, reaction extent, and concentration measures for single and complex reaction networks. * Master the fundamentals of reaction kinetics, including rate laws, activation energy, and temperature dependence. * Apply mass and energy balances to derive performance equations for ideal reactors (Batch, CSTR, and PFR). * Analyze complex systems using principles of lumped stoichiometry, focusing on bioreactions, cell growth, and yield calculations. * Learn the basics of non-elementary kinetics, including the Michaelis-Menten model for enzymatic reactions. * Design basic flow systems by selecting appropriate reactor types and determining necessary volumes for target conversion. The course begins with a thorough review of chemical fundamentals and stoichiometry before moving into reaction kinetics and mass balance derivation. We then systematically apply these principles to analyze and model the performance of various ideal reactor types, concluding with specialized topics in bioreaction engineering. This course is designed for absolute beginners in chemical engineering, bioengineering, or related scientific fields. No prior knowledge of reaction engineering or advanced calculus is required, though basic chemistry is helpful. Start building your expertise in process design and reaction optimization today.