BIOPROCESS ENGINEERING Question Papers (2008, Aug/Sep, Supple)

SET: 1

1. Mention about different component parts of a fermentation process.

2. (a) What is aseptic operation and contamination? (b) Describe a typical aseptic, aerobic fermentation process. (c) What is sparger? Describe different spargers used in fermentors.

3. Explain the factors to be considered for developing medium for animal cell culture.

4. (a) What are the important information required for the design of batch sterilization process. (b) Define Del factor. Describe the calculation of Del factor during heating and cooling.

5. Determine the yield coefficients (Y_X/S & Y_X/O2) and total amount of oxygen required in a batch reactor of 10000 litres volume with the growth of yeast on glucose as per the equation given

C₆H₁₂O₆ + 3O₂ + 0.48NH₃ --------------- 0.48C₆H₁₀NO₃ + 4.32H₂O + 3.12CO₂

Final yeast concentration of 47gdw/lit is required.

6. Discuss about the respiration chain and the electron transport along the respiratory chain.

7. (a) Enumerate the difference between the cell growth in batch and continuous cultures. (b) Explain the kinetics of microbial growth.

8. Discuss in detail the product kinetics associated with growth with appropriate examples.

SET: 2

1. Mention about the regualtory constraints of bioprocess.

2. What is meant by solid state fermentation? Explain the industrial application of solid state fermentation indicating the microorganisms, substrates and products.

3. (a) Explain the use of water as an important constituent for fermentation. (b) Describe the use of buffers for media preparation in fermentatio.

4. Derive the mathematical expression for Nutrient Quality Criterion (Q) in continuous sterilization and describe the graphical method to optimize temperature - time regime.

5. Determine coefficients a, b, c and d (where RQ = 0.66) along with the biomass yield coefficient and oxygen yield coefficient for aerobic degradation of benzoic acid by a mixed culture of microorganisms as represented by the following overall reaction

C₆H₅COOH + aO₂ + bNH₃ --------------------- cC₅H₇NO₂ + dH₂O + eCO<sub>2

6. Enumerate the aerobic catabolism of glucose with emphasis on energitics.

7. (a) Explain the procedure involved in the determination of cell number density and cell mass concentration. (b) Give a short notes on simple unstructured kinetic models for microbial growth.

8. Describe how the microbial products can be classified along with the equations.

SET: 3

1. Discuss in detail different unit operations used in manufacture of enzymes.

2. What is meant by solid state fermentation? Explain the industrial applications of solid state fermentation indicating the microorganisms, substrates and products.

3. Describe in detail the theory of oxygen requirement and supply in industrial fermentation.

4. Describe Arrhenius Plot for the calculation of activation energy and derive an expression for heat sterilization of a pure culture at a constant temperature.

5. Enumerate the difference in prediction of yield coefficients in anaerobic and aerobic system with example.

6. Explain the transfer of bioenergy via ATP.

7. (a) Explain the procedure involved in the determination of cell number density and cell mass concentration. (b) Give a short notes on simple unstructured kinetic models for microbial growth.

8. Explain the optimum environmental conditions required for growth and product formation.

SET: 4

1. Discuss in detail about different commercial enzymes and its applications.

2. In a</sub> culture operating with an intermittent addition of glucose solution , values of the following parameters are given at time t = 2hrs, when the system is at quasi steady state. Culture volume(V) = 1 Litre, Substrate concentration(S0) = 100 gm glucose/litre, Limiting rate constant(Ks) = 0.1 gm glucose/lit, Initial amount of biomass in the reactor (X0t) = 30 gm, Nutrient feed flow rate (F) = dv/dt = 200 ml/h, Maximum specific growth rate = 0.3h-1 , yield coefficient(YM X/M) = 0.5 GM/ GM GLUCOSE

Determine :

(a) The initial culture of the medium (VO)

(b) Determine the concentration of the growth limiting substrate in the vessel at quasi steady state.

(c) Determine the concentration and total amount of biomass in the vessel at t = 2hrs(at quasi steady state).

(d) If specific rate of product formation (qp) = 0.2 gm product/ cells, PO = 0, determine the concentration of the product in the vessel at t=2 hrs.

3. Explain the factors to be considered for developing medium for animal cell culture.

4. (a) What are the consequences if a foreign microorganisms invade a fermentation process. (b) Explain the methods to avoid this contamination.

5. Discuss the following in detail:
Stoichiometrically limiting compounds
Growth rate limiting compounds
6. What are the majot steps in aerobic metabolism of hydrocarbons? What are the end products?

7. Explain the difference between the aerobic and anaerobic growth.

8. Give brief notes on structured models for growth and product formation with relevant examples.