Biotechnological processes are by nature environmentally friendly and economical, while at the same time capable of producing an incredibly wide variety of products, with the aim of improving human health and quality of life. Among other things, they play an important role in the production of pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, solvents, biofuels, and environmental protection and restoration. In the 21st century, an era characterized by the need to redefine technological culture towards sustainable development, biotechnological processes are expected to play a particularly significant role. Biochemical Engineering, which provides the framework for the development and study of biotechnological processes on a production scale, is therefore a particularly important subject for scientists involved in these fields of activity.

This book is based on the teaching of the courses "Biotechnological Processes" and "Analysis and Design of Bioreactors" for about twenty years at the Department of Chemical Engineering of the University of Patras. Its goal is to provide the basic knowledge required for the design and operation of processes based on the use of biological cells (microorganisms or tissues of higher organisms) or their products (enzymes) for the production of useful products or for waste treatment. The book deals more with the basic principles that govern these processes and less with the presentation of the truly impressive variety of processes that are currently being applied in various industries. Special emphasis is placed on the construction of appropriate mathematical models that adequately describe the processes and their use for the design and optimization of bioreactors and product separation processes, as well as for the study of the dynamic behavior of these processes. [...]

(from the authors' preface)