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CHEN30040

Academic Year 2025/2026

Commercial Pharmaceutical & Bioprocessing Technology (CHEN30040)

Subject:
Chemical Engineering
College:
Engineering & Architecture
School:
Chem & Bioprocess Engineering
Level:
3 (Degree)
Credits:
5
Module Coordinator:
Professor Eoin Casey
Trimester:
Autumn
Mode of Delivery:
On Campus
Internship Module:
No
How will I be graded?
Letter grades

Curricular information is subject to change.

This module deals with scientific, engineering and professional elements of commercial Pharmaceutical and Bioprocessing technology. Students will become familiar with the steps involved in both pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical production, with a focus on key downstream unit operations like UF/MF and chromatography provided. The commercial production of insulin and insulin analogues in yeast and recombinant and conjugate vaccines in bacteria will be examined in detail. An overview of the production of biologics in mammalian cells will also be provided. Students will obtain a good grounding in the principles of bioreactor selection, design, scale-up and optimisation and will develop their ability to apply principles of mass transfer, fluid flow and heat transfer to bioreactor design and operation. Through a short series of company presentations, students will become familiar with the importance of the Bio/Pharmaceutical sector to the Irish economy. Students will also be assisted in preparing to apply for Internship and Graduate positions within this sector.

About this Module

Learning Outcomes:

On completion of this module students should be able:
1. To describe the drug development process from discovery to commercialisation
2. To describe the key operations involved in primary recover and downstream processing of biopharmaceuticals and demonstrate an understanding of the principles involved in chromatography.
3. To describe the industrial production of insulin in yeast cells and vaccines in bacterial expression systems.
4. To apply the bioreactor design equations to the analysis of microbial fermentations and cell cultures
5. To have a good grounding in the principles of bioreactor selection, design, scale-up and optimisation
6. To apply principles of mass transfer, fluid flow and heat transfer to bioreactor design and operation
7. To identify key ethical and intellectual property issues in the development of a Bio/Pharmaceutical process and/or product.
8. To understand the role of Chemical & Bioprocess Engineers in the Bio/Pharmaceutical sector and to identify key players and products.
9. To prepare effectively to apply for relevant positions within this sector.

Indicative Module Content:

Student Effort Hours:
Student Effort Type Hours
Lectures

36

Tutorial

12

Specified Learning Activities

26

Autonomous Student Learning

50

Total

124


Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
Lectures
Seminars
Case studies

Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations
Learning Recommendations:

Student enrolling for this module must have previously passed CHEN20060 (Transport Phenomena). It is also recommended that students should have taken either BIOC20020 (Machinery of Life) or CHEN20050 (Biotechnology for Engineers).


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Pre-requisite:
CHEN20060 - Transport Phenomena


 

Assessment Strategy
Description Timing Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade In Module Component Repeat Offered
Exam (In-person): End of trimester exam which will contain 4 questions and students must answer 3. End of trimester
Duration:
2 hr(s)
Standard conversion grade scale 40% No
80
No
Report(s): Student must write a report on the Professional engineering presentations Week 4, Week 5, Week 6, Week 7, Week 8, Week 9, Week 10, Week 11, Week 12 Standard conversion grade scale 40% No
10
No
Quizzes/Short Exercises: in class MCQs Week 2, Week 3, Week 4, Week 5, Week 6, Week 7, Week 8, Week 9, Week 10, Week 11 Graded No
10
No

Carry forward of passed components
Yes
 

Resit In Terminal Exam
Spring Yes - 2 Hour
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 

Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Group/class feedback, post-assessment

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Not yet recorded.

Name Role
Professor Eoin Casey Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Dr Philip Donnellan Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Assoc Professor Susan McDonnell Lecturer / Co-Lecturer

Timetabling information is displayed only for guidance purposes, relates to the current Academic Year only and is subject to change.
Autumn Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12 Mon 15:00 - 15:50
Autumn Tutorial Offering 1 Week(s) - 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12 Mon 16:00 - 16:50
Autumn Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - Autumn: All Weeks Tues 12:00 - 12:50
Autumn Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - Autumn: All Weeks Tues 14:00 - 14:50