Chemical Process Engineering in Marine Biotechnology: Opportunities and Challenges

Abstract

Chemical process engineering is the critical link that transforms basic research discoveries into commercial reality. The role of chemical process engineering in marine biotechnology, as the technology of industrial exploitation of biochemical marine systems, is illustrated. The scientific disciplines underlying biotechnology are pointed out. Chemical engineering is described as an established discipline, drawing upon chemical, biological and engineering sciences, and concerned with design, development, implementation and operation of processes and process plant for handling biological materials. The present status of chemical process engineering in marine biotechnology has been described. Key engineering challenges, including design, development, modeling and evaluation of sustainable production systems employing phototrophic organisms, development of metabolic engineering and immobilized cell and enzyme bioreactors, environmental aspects of large-scale photobioreactors, and bioproduct formulation, especially with reference to stability and functionality are presented.

Keywords: Marine biotechnology, Bioproduct, Marine microorganism, Seaweeds