Foundations of Chemical and Biological Reaction Engineering

Understanding how chemical and biological substances react and how to design the vessels where these reactions take place is fundamental to modern engineering. This text-based course guides you from basic molecular transformations to the design of complex industrial reactors. You will develop a solid grasp of reaction kinetics, thermodynamics, and transport phenomena. What you'll learn: Understand foundational kinetics and rate laws for chemical and biological systems; Apply material and energy balances to design batch, plug flow, and continuous stirred-tank reactors; Analyze enzymatic reactions and microbial growth kinetics using standard mathematical models; Evaluate heat effects and temperature profiles within different reactor configurations; Practice solving reaction engineering problems using systematic analytical methods. We begin with essential terminology, core thermodynamic definitions, and simple reaction rates, before progressing to complex multi-phase systems and biological reactor design. This course is designed for beginners, engineering students, and professionals looking for a solid refresher in reaction engineering, with no advanced prerequisites required. Start reading today to build a strong foundation in chemical and biological reactor design.