Bioprocess Technology
INTRODUCTION
Industrial biotechnology is the application of biotechnology for the sustainable production of biochemicals, biomaterials and biofuels from renewable resources, using living cells and/or their enzymes. Scientific research toward optimum, but controlled use, of genetic resources and natural biodiversity can lead to a body of knowledge to nurture the development of suitable technologies.This results in highly productive and cleaner processes with minimum waste generation and energy use.
Industrial biotechnology is mainly based on fermentation technology and biocatalysis. In a properly controlled environment, genetically modified or non-GM micro-organisms (for example yeast, fungi and bacteria) or cell lines from animal or human origin, are cultivated in closed bioreactors to produce a variety of goods. Similarly these microorganism can be engineered to produce specific enzymes, for applications in specific catalytic reaction or processĀ to generate high value products. Raw materials of terrestrial and marine origin, including organic byproducts, are transfromed into fermentable intermediates, which can be readily converted by tailor-made (micro-)organisms into the commercially valuable products, such as enzymes, vitamins, flavours, fine chemicals and biofuels.
To have a sustainable biotechnology-based industry without compromising the benefits to the three elementsĀ of people-planet-and-planet, the economic development of industrial biotechnology must be conciously developed together with social and enviromental impact studies. When all stakeholders cooperate in a self-reinforcing cycle, industrial biotechnology could create new employment, while reducing the impact on the environment and creating economic value.
BIOPROCESS TECHNOLOGY GROUP
- Bioingredient
- Kinetic and Fermentation System Design
- Environmental Biotechnology
- Scale-up and Downstream Processing
- BioBiz Innovation
CLUSTER LEADER: PROF. DR. OSMAN HASSAN
School of Chemical Sciences and Food Technology
Faculty Science and Technology
Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
43600 Bangi, Selangor
Tel: 603-89213805
Email: osman@ukm.edu.my