Industrial Biotechnology & Fermentation

Biotechnology is defined as any technological application that uses biological systems, living organisms, or derivatives thereof, to make or modify products or processes for specific use. Major applications of biotechnology are in agriculture, food science & medicine. Industrial biotechnology (or white biotechnology) is the application of biotechnology for industrial purposes, including manufacturing, alternative energy (or "bioenergy"), & biomaterials. It includes the practice of using cells or components of cells (such as enzymes) to generate industrially useful products. Industrial biotechnology can significantly impact the chemical industry, & can enable economies to become less dependent on fossil fuels. Industrial biotechnology needs to be nurtured to overcome a number of barriers before its full potential can be realized. Some of the barriers include the integration of disciplines, long-term plans & large R&D commitments, development of cheap feedstocks & powerful enzymes. All this requires proper understanding of the subject, including proper training of technical personnel. The course covers most of the above considerations. It will include theory in brief, process & equipment design aspects, process & service specifications, & application aspects of these processes in a practical manner.