Chemical and Biological Reaction Engineering Fundamentals

Chemical and biological reaction engineering sits at the heart of producing everything from life-saving pharmaceuticals to sustainable biofuels. Understanding how chemical reactions behave and how to design the vessels that contain them is essential for modern engineers. This text-based course guides you step-by-step through the fundamental principles of kinetics, transport phenomena, and reactor design. You will transition from a basic understanding of physical chemistry to confidently formulating and solving complex reactor design equations. By reading clear theoretical breakdowns and working through guided problem sets, you will learn to analyze both chemical and biological systems under various operating conditions. What you'll learn: - Understand the foundational principles of reaction kinetics, stoichiometry, and rate laws - Design and analyze isothermal and non-isothermal reactors, including batch, plug flow, and continuous stirred-tank systems - Apply mass and energy balances to biological systems and enzymatic reactions - Analyze transport limitations and their effects on catalytic and microbial reaction rates - Practice formulating mathematical models for complex, multi-step reaction pathways The course begins with foundational definitions of reaction rates and stoichiometry before moving into reactor design equations and biological system modeling. You will progress systematically from simple ideal reactors to complex, real-world systems with transport limitations. This course is designed for beginners in chemical engineering, bioengineering, or applied chemistry who have a basic background in general chemistry and calculus. No prior reaction engineering experience is required. Start reading today to build a strong engineering foundation in chemical and biological reactor design.