White Biotechnology

Learning Outcomes

Knowledge and Understanding

• Explain the principles of white (industrial) biotechnology and its role in the transition to a sustainable bio-based and circular economy.
• Describe microbial and enzymatic systems used for the production of bio-based chemicals, fuels, polymers, and high-value products.
• Analyse metabolic engineering and pathway optimization strategies for industrial bioprocesses.
• Evaluate the principles of biocatalysis, enzyme engineering, and fermentation technologies in industrial applications.

Skills

• Design microbial cell factories for the production of target compounds using metabolic engineering approaches.
• Apply biocatalysis and enzyme engineering strategies for industrial biotransformations.
• Analyse and optimize fermentation processes for improved yield, productivity, and efficiency.
• Evaluate industrial biotechnology case studies and propose improvements based on sustainability criteria.
• Apply principles of green chemistry and resource efficiency in the design of biotechnological processes.
• Design and evaluate applications of synthetic biology in biomedicine, industrial biotechnology, agriculture, and the environment.
• Apply the Design-Build-Test-Learn (DBTL) framework to the development and optimization of synthetic biological systems.

Competencies

• Critically evaluate scientific and industrial literature in the field of white biotechnology.
• Integrate sustainability considerations, including environmental impact and resource use, into bioprocess design.
• Make informed decisions in the selection of biological systems and processes for industrial applications.
• Collaborate in interdisciplinary teams to address challenges in sustainable industrial biotechnology.

Module Syllabus

• Introduction to White Biotechnology and the Bioeconomy – Definition, scope, and role of industrial biotechnology in sustainable production and the transition toward a circular bioeconomy.
• Microbial Cell Factories for Industrial Biotechnology – Microbial hosts used in industrial bioprocesses and strategies for strain development and optimization.
• Metabolic Engineering for Bio-based Chemical Production – Design and optimization of metabolic pathways for production of fuels, chemicals, and biomaterials.
• Biocatalysis and Enzyme Engineering – Principles of enzymatic catalysis, enzyme discovery, and protein engineering for industrial applications.
• Fermentation Technologies in Industrial Biotechnology – Fermentation strategies, bioreactor systems, and process optimization for industrial production.
• Production of Bio-based Chemicals and Materials – Industrial examples including organic acids, alcohols, biopolymers, and specialty chemicals.
• Biotechnology for Biofuels and Renewable Energy – Microbial and enzymatic processes for biofuel production and integration in energy systems.
• Process Integration and Industrial Biorefineries – Concepts of integrated bioprocessing, biomass valorization, and waste stream utilization.
• Green Chemistry and Sustainable Process Design – Environmental considerations in industrial biotechnology, including resource efficiency and waste reduction.
• Industrial Case Studies in White Biotechnology – Analysis of successful industrial bioprocesses and emerging technologies in sustainable manufacturing.

Suggested Bibliography

• Stephanopoulos G, Aristidou AA, Nielsen J (1998) Metabolic engineering: principles and methodologies. Academic Press, San Diego.
• Nielsen J, Keasling JD (2016) Engineering cellular metabolism. Cell 164:1185–1197.
• Shuler ML, Kargi F (2017) Bioprocess engineering: basic concepts. 3rd ed. Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River.
• Lee SY, Kim HU (2015) Systems strategies for developing industrial microbial strains. Nature Biotechnology 33:1061–1072.
• Nielsen J, Larsson C, van Maris A, Pronk J (2013) Metabolic engineering of yeast for production of fuels and chemicals. Current Opinion in Biotechnology 24:398–404.