This module provides detailed information on the utilization of organisms or their components in industrial or commercial processes, such as the production of nutraceuticals and functional foods. It discusses a variety of microbial products used in the functional food and nutraceutical industries, including amino acids, antibiotics, enzymes, organic acids, vitamins, polysaccharides, as well as probiotics and prebiotics. The module also covers the basic concepts of upstream and downstream processing in bioprocess technology.
This module aims at introducing students to the concept of industrial-scale biotechnology manufacturing process typically used in nutraceuticals and functional food industries.
*Curricular information is subject to change
- Introduction to Industrial Biotechnology: Classification, characteristics and comparison of bioprocessing with chemical processing, socio-economic challenges and industrial biotechnology, EU Vision for Industrial Biotech in 2025.
- Industrial Fermentation Process: Primary and secondary metabolites and synthesis route, Bioreactor / Fermenter types and operation, introduction to solid state fermentation/submerged fermentation, advantages and disadvantages of solid substrate and liquid fermentations.
- Isolation and Screening of Industrial Strain: Properties of Industrial microorganisms, Primary screening secondary screening, Evaluation of potentialities of microorganisms, Preservation and development of industrially important microorganisms, development of inocula for industrial fermentation and some primary metabolites e.g. ethanol, acetone, Microorganisms culture collections centre, development of Industrial Important microorganisms.
- Media Design for Fermentation Processes: Fermentation Medium, Media Formulation, Types of media, the typical substrate for carbon, nitrogen and other media components for industrial fermentation, industrial media sterilization process, Basic concepts of Upstream and Downstream processing in Bioprocess.
- Microbial production of industrially important products such as enzymes (e.g. proteases, amylase, xylanase etc.), vitamins (e.g. Vitamin B12, Vitamin C, Vitamin A etc.), steroids, sterols and antibiotics (e.g. penicillin, streptomycin), Organic Acids (e.g. citric acid, lactic acid etc.), amino acids (e.g. lysine), microbial polysaccharides
- Biotechnology in the production of nutraceuticals and functional foods (e.g. probiotics, prebiotics etc.).
- Valorisation of food waste for nutraceuticals and other high-value products
- Interactive Lectures
- Multimedia Content
- Peer Teaching
- In-class quizzes, group discussions
- Case studies
- Self-Directed Learning
- Laboratory: 4 x 3 hours lab based on various biotechnological processes
| Module Content & Assessment | |
|---|---|
| Assessment Breakdown | % |
| Formal Examination | 50 |
| Other Assessment(s) | 50 |