CHE5882/6882 Biomass and Biorefineries -2025
Group Case Study #3B: Biotechnology with Enzymes and Microbes
Release: Friday, Week 2
Due: Friday, Week 5, 11:55 PM (approx. midnight)
Biological transformations are emerging as viable competition to traditional chemical transformations due to the relatively mild conditions required, utilising less energy, producing less emissions, and a reliance on renewable feedstocks. However, there are complications and adjustments that need to be made to operate biological plants, and issues around supply chains, product value/volume, etc are more nuanced.
You have been tasked with researching the production of PRODUCT using biological conversion processes, using feedstocks available in Australia (for your specific product, please see the spreadsheet in the assessment link on Moodle).
Note - in this Case Study, you will be required to find your own information about your feedstock, the bioconversion processes, and the products, whether it be academic papers, market reports, etc. Be sure to use a combination of text, figures and tables (original tables/figs preferred) and calculations in your report, based on exercises from practicals in w2-5.
1) Compare and contrast the feedstocks available (between 2 and 4 sources) which could be used to produce the product, regardless of the conversion process.
• Include information about known composition, relative costs, potential providers (e.g. what type of industry could provide this, can you find examples of companies?)
• 1-page - 30%
2) Choose one particular bioconversion system (either enzymatic or cell-based), justifying your choice on techno-economic aspects. (e.g. which enzyme or microbe would you employ, under what conditions, requiring what pre-treatment of feed to achieve max efficiency). Provide a block flow diagram of the process, from raw material feeds through to product and waste streams, and provide an overview of the unit processes required. Estimate the product yield and selectivity for your chosen reaction, and explain your assumptions underpinning the calculations.
• 2-page max- 40%
3) Provide your business recommendation. What are the business opportunities and challenges associated with your recommendations over the short vs. long term? Provide a value-volume curve that includes several other products to illustrate your point.
• Be factual and very specific
• 1-page max- 30%
Submitting your Report
To submit your assignment, please use the Case Study #3 submission link on the Moodle site, available under ‘Assessment Information’.
• Have a cover page
• While I do advise not to use Artificial Intelligence (AI) for this analytical assignment – should you decide to use it- it MUST BE STATED and described.
• There will be NO extension granted.
• You are expected to find and refer to any additional references needed to support your analysis.