Bioprocess engineering combines technology and organic materials in industries such as pharmaceuticals, food, and agriculture. Bacteria, enzymes, and proteins can be processed in manufacturing plants, and genetic engineering and nanotechnology are often integrated. Biodegradable plastics, crop development, and waste treatment are also impacted. Bioprocess engineering is studied at universities and offers various job opportunities.
Biotechnology has been used to process food and medicines for thousands of years. Yeast was often part of baking as well as fermenting sugar into alcohol. Scientists working in bioprocess engineering typically combine technology and organic materials in the pharmaceutical, food, and agricultural industries. Biology can be applied to many industrial processes, such as plastics manufacturing, fuel production, and waste treatment. Genetic engineering and nanotechnology are also often integrated with bioprocess engineering.
Bacteria, enzymes, proteins and various other biological materials can be processed in the manufacturing plants. Equipment such as tanks, pumps, impellers and valves are typically used in bioprocess engineering to work with these substances. Organisms such as bacteria can be engineered to produce insulin for people with diabetes, while sugars can be synthesized in manufacturing-level quantities of corn syrup or soft drinks, for example.
Bioprocess engineering efforts have also enabled the development of biodegradable plastics that can also be made from renewable substances. Enzymes, which occur naturally in humans and other organisms, can be added to industrial processes and allow these to occur without significant heating or cooling. Oils and fats can be processed in an industrial setting, while researchers can develop reactions with organic materials. Biological waste treatment sometimes helps with water cleaning, gas removal and odor elimination.
Agriculture is another area where bioprocess engineering has made an impact. It is sometimes combined with genetics to produce crops with proteins that help fight pests. Plants that synthesize proteins suitable for human medicine can also be produced. Biotechnology has also involved the mapping of the human genome, as well as the development of computer databases of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) protein sequences.
In addition to gene therapy and vaccine manufacturing, nanotechnology or the manipulation of organic and inorganic compounds at the molecular scale is often integrated with bioprocess engineering. Such research can help harness how cells work, integrating these molecules with the ability to generate electricity or store data, for example. Researchers work to understand how to alter cell function to perform efficient tasks.
Bioprocess engineering is done in many laboratories and various universities offer the subject as an area of study. A bachelor’s degree can be obtained within the field, and jobs in various disciplines are often available. Chemistry, process engineering, microbiology and other subjects are usually studied to acquire the knowledge needed to work in a bioprocess engineering laboratory.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
