This online module will provide students with an up-to-date knowledge of downstream processing of biomolecules including clarification and protein purification.

Introduction to downstream processing, bioproducts and bioseparations: small biomolecules, macromolecules, bioseparations engineering analysis and route to the market. Analytical methods and bench-scale preparative bioseparations: assay attributes analysis of biological activity, purity and microbiological assays. Cell structure, lysis and flocculation. Extraction: extraction principles, scale-up and design of extractors, centrifugal extractors. Filtration: filtration principles, filter media and equipment. Sedimentation: sedimentation principles, centrifugation, ultracentrifugation and sedimentation at low accelerations. Liquid chromatography and adsorption: adsorption equilibrium, adsorption and chromatography column dynamics, membrane chromatography, moving bed chromatography, continuous operations. Virus clearance in cell culture-based therapeutics. Precipitation: protein solubility, precipitate formation phenomena and methods of precipitation. Crystallization: crystallization principles, batch crystallizers, process crystallization of proteins. Evaporation: evaporation principles and equipment. Drying: drying principles, vacuum drying, freeze drying and spray drying. Process analysis and economic evaluation on monoclonal antibody production. New technologies and trends in bioprocessing including continuous processing. Interlink with predictive modelling tools and upstream production. Cost analysis and process scale-up.

On completion of this module students will be able to: 1. Understand the fundamentals of downstream processing for biochemical product recovery. 2. Examine new trends and emerging technologies for bio-based product recovery. 3. Demonstrate awareness of business aspects of manufacture of biopharmaceuticals. 4. Independently identify and evaluate pertinent information from scientific and additional literature sources. 5. Design a potential downstream process given specific product properties and project constraints.

On completion of this module students will be able to: Appreciate the importance and the value of the knowledge to be obtained particularly of the importance of the role of downstream processing within the manufacture of biopharmaceuticals

On completion of this module students will: 1. Sketch out the practical operation of basic bioreaction systems. 2. Demonstrate effective communication skills.

The module is delivered online and taught through a combination of lectures and group tutorial sessions. Recent research developments are included in the module through review of published articles from Bioprocess journals, and industrial awareness is generated through the use of industrial case studies. In the course of the module, students undertake 1 group project to research a current topic of interest in bioprocess science, developing their collaborative skills in line with the UL graduate attributes,