School of Biotechnology, International University-HCMC Course Syllabus

Department: Applied Chemistry Form BT.Exxx

FERMENTATION TECHNOLOGY (Code: BC306IU)

COURSE OVERVIEW
This Fermentation Technology course is designed for the applied chemistry major interested in
learning about biological processes and fermented products. The course will equip students with
the principles of fermentation technology (e.g. the processes of fermentation, fermentation types
and fermentation design), microbial growth kinetics and selection of potential microbes used in
industry and principles of major methods for industrial fermentation product recovery and
purification. A part of the course will also introduce a number of products (biofuels, food and
pharmaceutical substances) produced by using fermentation technology.

LEARNING OUTCOMES
Upon the course completion, students should be able to:
1. Describe the processes of fermentation
2. List down the characteristics of industrial microorganisms
3. Evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of the common methods used for
microbial growth measurements
4. Analyze the advantages and disadvantages of different fermentation modes (solid
state vs submerged fermentation, batch vs fed batch and continuous
fermentations) and propose when to use them
5. Identify the factors affecting fermentation processes and propose strategy for
product enhancement
6. Analyze the principles of the major methods used for product recovery and
purification in industrial fermentation
7. Access the applications of fermentation technology in various fields including
environmental technology, food technology and pharmaceutical science
PREREQUISITES
Enzymology
INSTRUCTOR(S)
Tran Thi My Hanh (PhD), Office: A1. 707; E-mail: ttmhanh@hcmiu.edu.vn
RESOURCES
Recommended book(s):
Fermentation and Biochemical Engineering Handbook (3rd Edition) by Celeste M.
Todaro and Henry C. Vogel; 2016.

Principles of fermentation technology (3rd Edition) by Peter Stanbury, Allan Whitaker

and Steve Hall; 2014.

Research articles will be provided for discussion

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 School of Biotechnology, International University-HCMC Course Syllabus
Department: Applied Chemistry Form BT.Exxx

IU Blackboard
Lectures and select articles will be uploaded on the BB prior to class

CONTENTS (3 lecture credits + 1 lab credit)

Lecture (3 credits = 45 total hours)

Week Topic

Lecture 1: An introduction of fermentation processes

1

Lecture 2: Industrial microorganisms and selection of microorganisms used

2+3 in industry

Lecture 3: Microbial growth and modes of fermentation

4

Lecture 4: Microbial growth kinetics

5

6 Lecture 5: Fermentors

7 Lecture 7: Statistical methods for fermentation optimization

Article discussion
8

Lecture 8: Recovery and purification of industrial fermentation products

9+10

Lecture 9: Fermented foods and beverages

11

12 + 13 Lecture 10: Fermentation for biofuels and solvents

Lecture 11: Fermentation for pharmaceutical products

14

Discussion
15

Laboratory (1 credit = 30 hours)

Week Topic

1 Allocation of laboratory place, introduction to the course and medium

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 School of Biotechnology, International University-HCMC Course Syllabus
Department: Applied Chemistry Form BT.Exxx

preparation

Aseptic technique, culture technique and inoculum and starter culture

2
preparation

3 Cellulase production in a small scale culture

4 Cellulase production in a large scale culture (5 L fermentor)

5 Sample collection and measurement of cellulase enzyme activity

6 Data analysis and discussion and field trip

GRADING
Midterm Exam: 30%
Final Exam: 40%
Others:1 30% Including: Assignment: 10%; Lab report/exam: 20 %
POLICY2
Language
Both students and instructors are encouraged to use English for all communications, either
in or outside class.
Attendance
Students must attend at least 80% of the classes in order to qualify for sitting the midterm
and final exams. All absence, if not emergent, requires approval of the instructor(s) in
advance. Absence for exams requires in-advanced approval of the Office of Academic
Affairs.
Safety
Both instructor(s) and students are requested to strictly follow the rules/regulations related
to safety issued by the university and/or the school. Violation, no matter on intention or
not, implies immediate dimission from class or labwork session.
Teaching hours
All classes start sharply at 08:00 in the morning and 13:00 in the afternoon. Each teaching
period lasts for 45 mins and must be delivered in the presence of either the instructor(s) or

1 May consist of assignment, presentation and/or labworks. Please specify so that students should be informed how they will be evaluated in
advance. Attendance is a requirement to sit for the mid-term and final exams. No marks should be given for attendance. For labworks it is
recommended that students are evaluated after each class and overally at the end. The final examination for labworks should not contribute
more than 30% of the final score for labworks.
2 The following policies are applied to all courses offered by the School of Biotechnology, International University – VNUHCM. Instructor(s) is

encouraged to add and discuss with the students additional policies that could help improve the quality of the course or its delivery.

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 School of Biotechnology, International University-HCMC Course Syllabus
Department: Applied Chemistry Form BT.Exxx

his/her teaching assistant. Students that do not come on time can be considered as not
attending the class.
Communication
Conversation between instructor(s) and students is possible via in-person contact or email.
It is recommended that students check with the instructor(s) first before attempting to use
telephone for communication.
Qualification of the instructor(s)
Instructor(s) and his/her teaching assistant, once approved by the university and the
school, i.e. names appear on the semester’s official schedule, are qualified for teaching.
They are fully responsible for the quality of teaching reflected via the preparation of this
syllabus, available materials uploaded on IU-Blackboard, lecture notes or handouts and, if
the course requires labwork, lab manual. Without permission from the university and the
school no other person could teach on behalf of the instructor(s)
Report
Any matter related to the course should be directly reported and discussed with the
instructor(s) before attempting to resolve it at the school or the university levels.
Appointment to meet with the Dean of School could be made via the school’s secretary or
via email. Students who wish to remain anonymous could write and drop their complaints
in the White Box in front of the school’s office.

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