Chemical and Biological Reaction Engineering Fundamentals

Understanding how chemical and biological systems react and transform is at the heart of modern chemical engineering. From designing efficient industrial reactors to analyzing complex cellular pathways, mastering reaction engineering requires a solid grasp of both theory and practical mathematical modeling. This text-based course guides you from foundational kinetics to advanced reactor design principles, ensuring you build the problem-solving confidence needed in the field. You will learn how to analyze reaction rates, formulate mass balances, and design systems for both chemical and biological processes. Through structured written explanations and detailed step-by-step solutions to representative engineering problems, you will develop a deep intuitive and analytical understanding of how reactors behave under various conditions. What you'll learn: - Understand foundational reaction kinetics, stoichiometry, and rate laws for chemical and biological systems - Design and analyze ideal reactor models including batch, plug flow (PFR), and continuously stirred-tank reactors (CSTR) - Apply mass and energy balances to solve complex, multi-reaction engineering problems - Model biological reactions using enzyme kinetics and microbial growth models - Analyze temperature and pressure effects on reactor performance and stability - Practice modern numerical formulation techniques to set up reactor equations for computational solvers This course begins with basic chemical terminology, kinetic principles, and fundamental mass balance concepts before moving into complex reactor networks and biological systems. Each section pairs clear theoretical explanations with comprehensive, fully worked-out problem sets to reinforce your learning. This course is designed for undergraduate students, aspiring chemical engineers, and professionals seeking a solid, beginner-friendly refresher on reaction engineering. No advanced prior knowledge of reactor design is required, though a basic understanding of general chemistry and introductory calculus is helpful. Start building your engineering problem-solving skills today with this comprehensive guide.