Chemical and Biological Reaction Engineering Fundamentals

Reactor design lies at the heart of the chemical and biotechnology industries, transforming raw materials into valuable products safely and efficiently. This text-based course guides you through the essential principles of reaction kinetics, ideal reactor sizing, and biological catalysis, giving you the analytical tools to solve foundational engineering problems. What you'll learn: - Understand reaction rates, stoichiometry, and how to formulate rate laws for diverse systems. - Size and analyze ideal reactors, including Batch, Continuous Stirred-Tank (CSTR), and Plug Flow (PFR) systems. - Optimize reactor networks by comparing performance in series and parallel configurations. - Apply Michaelis-Menten kinetics to analyze enzymatic and basic biological reactions. - Evaluate yield, selectivity, and modern green chemistry metrics for sustainable process design. - Practice solving classic reaction engineering problems through step-by-step written derivations. The course begins with key terminology, chemical stoichiometry, and kinetic definitions before moving into reactor design equations and biological systems. It is designed for students and professionals new to chemical engineering, requiring only basic chemistry and calculus. Start reading today to build a strong foundation in reaction engineering.