Biology in Chemical Engineering

[Annie Maloche]

Hey guys!
I'm a Chemical Engineering student, and I really enjoy learning about this discipline of engineering. I've also always enjoyed learning about subject biology and the use of biology in engineering. I was wondering if there were any interdisciplinary senior chemical engineers out there that have worked/studied (but more specifically studied/researched) in a way that integrates biology into chemical engineering principals.
I'm really interesting in doing research and learning more, and I was wondering if there was anyone out there that could give me a first hand account of what it is like being in chemical engineering with a focus on biological principles.

 

[IRstuff]

Depends on how narrowly you are willing to accept "biological principles." Much of DNA, etc., testing these days involve trying to do "chemical analysis on a chip" or "card", either of which are essentially miniature chemical processing plants. Some of the home test kits for Covid-19 antibodies are simpler versions of that.

TTFN (ta ta for now)
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[shvet]

Bacteria are used in chemical industry as catalyst. As per my own experience it is a competitive alternative for conventional catalyst for processes:
- CH4 to protein/albumine
- industry of acrylic chain/tree
I am talking about real large-capacity facilities. Note that CH4 to protein is often discussed as an issue of state food security and last half of a year it takes a lot of interest in countries having high population density as price of natural gas and oil stocks dropped drastically.

The same for treatment of liquid wastes of chemical plants as an alternative of incineration and conventional water treatment.

I'm really interesting in doing research and learning more, and I was wondering if there was anyone out there that could give me a first hand account of what it is like being in chemical engineering with a focus on biological principles.

There was a large biochemical plant which produced protein derivatives from an oil stock in my town and it is a story of poor fate.
It is an interesting job (and harmful for health I would say, no less than on conventional chemical facility) but "situation-dependent". Biochemical engineering is complex and poorly researched, biochemical facilities are a question of R&D. There is no stable investment, many facilities are subject of political/financial gambles where engineering becomes some sort of magic and obscurantism.
Biochemical engineers are highly sought when they are needed and no one recall them other times.
I am a process engineer on petrochemical industry and I can design (more or less) power, gas, oil, petrochemical and chemical units. There is some money all the time and I always will have a job. A biochemical enginner can design only one sort of facility or even 1-2 stages on this facility.
It is a good option when you are working on a large chemical company having +/- stable investment or R&D programm in biochemical engineering, e.g. Bayer.

 

[miningman]

Bacteria, including Thiobaccilus Feroxidans plays a major part in the formation of Acid Mine Drainage. This is a problem that is not getting resolved very qickly across the mining industry. These bacteris are also used in leching of suitable ores to recover copper