Chemical and Biological Reaction Engineering Fundamentals

Reaction engineering is at the heart of converting raw materials into valuable products, bridging the gap between molecular chemistry and industrial-scale production. Understanding how to model, analyze, and optimize these chemical and biological systems is essential for modern engineers. This text-only course guides you from foundational kinetics to complex reactor design, ensuring you grasp the core mechanics of both chemical and biological processes. You will transition from studying basic molecular collisions to designing efficient reactors and analyzing complex biological networks. Through structured written explanations and step-by-step calculations, you will build a practical toolkit for solving real-world engineering challenges. What you'll learn: - Understand foundational chemical kinetics, reaction rates, and temperature dependence - Design and analyze ideal reactor models including batch, plug flow, and continuous stirred-tank reactors - Analyze biological reactions, enzymatic pathways, and microbial growth kinetics using Michaelis-Menten models - Formulate mass and energy balances for steady-state and transient reaction systems - Evaluate reactor performance, selectivity, and yield for multiple parallel or series reactions - Apply modern numerical concepts and basic optimization strategies to chemical reactor design The course begins with fundamental terminology, thermodynamic principles, and rate laws before moving into reactor design equations. You will then progress to biological systems, transport limitations, and practical engineering scenarios, building your skills sequentially through detailed written examples. This course is designed for beginners, engineering students, and professionals looking for a solid refresher in reaction kinetics. No prior advanced reactor design experience is required, though a basic understanding of general chemistry and introductory calculus will help you get the most out of the material. Start reading today to master the core principles of chemical and biological reaction engineering.