Renovations to the existing biochemical engineering laboratory will include modern biology benches and cabinetry, new flooring and a new biological hood. The renovations will provide a clean, low-contaminant environment for the transfer of microbial cultures in student fermentation experiments. The grant also will be used to acquire a new pilot-scale fermentation vessel that will demonstrate problems with mixing, aeration, cooling and sterilization associated with the scale-up of microbial fermentations.
"This laboratory will help students learn the skills they need to enter the food, pharmaceutical, bioethanol and bioremediation industries," Dr. Patrick Gilcrease, assistant professor, Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, said. "We will provide undergraduates an intense level of hands-on experience normally reserved for training of graduate student researchers."
The most basic definition of biochemical engineering is the application of chemical engineering to biological systems. Biochemical engineers work in the ethanol industry, they design biological systems for environmental remediation, they engineer improvements to pharmaceuticals and they work in other areas that combine biochemistry, microbiology and chemical engineering.
Chemical Engineering students at Tech interested in biochemical engineering take a series of courses that cover all those areas. They augment that with experience in the biochemical engineering laboratory.
Biochemical engineering holds excellent promise to generate and sustain economic development in South
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Contact: Steve Buchholz
stephen.buchholz@sdsmt.edu
605-394-6082
South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
22-Sep-2004