Corso di laurea magistrale in Biotecnologie Industriali

In accordance with the general objectives of the Master's degree course in Industrial Biotechnology, the teaching aims to provide an overview of the industrial biotechnological processes, from the biochemical mechanism to the intensification of the process, and / or to the integration of the chemical process with the biochemical one. Starting from the basic knowledge developed in the courses of Applied Biochemistry and Industrial Chemical and Biochemical Processes, students will be guided in the analysis of large-scale productions, in particular through concrete examples in the energy, food, pharmaceutical sectors

KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING

Knowing and discussion of the topics covered in class

APPLYING KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING

Showing the ability to propose possible solutions to problems related to industrial production

INDEPENDENT JUDGEMENT

Ability to analyze recent literature and critically read the results

COMMUNICATION SKILLS

Ability to describe an integrated industrial process in an understandable way

LEARNING SKILLS

Understanding and discussion of the main problems and solutions related to chemical and biochemical industrial production

The teaching concerns a specific description of the products that can be industrially obtained through biotechnological or integrated chemical / biotechnological plants in the energy, food and pharmaceutical fields. 
For each area, starting with a general introduction on the main limits and needs of companies in the sector, two specific examples will be presented (which ideally will vary from year to year). 
We will start from the problems related to synthesis and biosynthesis to arrive at describing how they can be solved within the industrial process.
Topics of interest of the course are:
-Energy sector: Production of second and third generation biofuels. Cultures of photosynthetic microorganisms (microalgae, cyanobacteria) and photobioreactors as energy producers.
- Food industry: Production of supplements (aspartame, glutamic acid), production of biopolymers for packaging (lactic and polylactic acid, adipic acid, acrylamide, PEF, glucaric acid). 
Downstream of the process
-Pharmaceutical industry: Production of primary and secondary metabolites for pharmaceutical use: interferons, hormones, vitamins, polysaccharides.

EXERCISES:
Meetings with local industries who will present the industrial processes carried out within their plants, highlighting the problems to be solved and the most recent progress in the industrial sector.

Students/local companies interactions: 12 hours

Lessons are held in presence. Lessons Attendance is not mandatory, but recommended. 

The exam includes a single written test integrated between the two modules with multiple choice on Moodle (15 min. test). The weight of this test is equal to 30% of the final grade.
The remaining 70% is represented by the practical part which consists in the oral presentations (15 min.) of an industrial process chosen from among those not covered by the teachers in class.

The teachers are available by appointment to discuss, repeat and clarify the concepts explained in the lessons. Additional teaching material can be shared via digital e-learning platforms.

Visit to local companies

The use of teaching material presented in the lessons in the form of slides and scientific articles is strongly recommended.
The material is available on Moodle.

Students with DSA or disabilities, please take note of the University's support (https://www.unito.it/servizi/lo-studio/studenti-e-studentesse-con-disabilita) and accommodation (https://www.unito.it/accoglienza-studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa) arrangements, and in particular the procedures required for exam support (https://www.unito.it/servizi/lo-studio/studenti-e-studentesse-con-disturbi-specifici-di-apprendimento-dsa/supporto)