BCHE 4520/6520 - Design of Biochemical Separations Processes


Fall Semester 2026

Homework Assignments...

Other Information...

Test Information...

Course Instructor

Dr. Mark A. Eiteman
021 Riverbend South
nametie@uga.edu

Office Hours

There will be no office hours. However, you may readily obtain assistance in two ways:

1) You may attend Zhelp sessions (i.e., "Zoom help"). That is, students may voluntarily log into a supplied Zoom Meeting ID, and seek guidance from me.

 These Zhelp sessions will generally be on Sunday, Tuesday or Thursday, but only on days before tests or homework due dates.

 Each Friday I will announce the specific dates/times for the following week's Zhelp sessions.

2) You may email me. Provide sufficient detail to allow me to understand your question (e.g., scan your attempts at a homework solution).

Course Description

Unit operations used for biological processing including filtration, centrifugation, cell disruption, isolation, purification, and polishing.

Meeting Time

8:40 - 9:35 MWF
Davison C114

Calendar (Fall 2026)

Monday, Aug 17First Day of Classes
Friday, Sep 4Class by Zoom - You will receive zoom link by email prior to this date (a)
Monday, Sep 7No Class - Labor Day Holiday
Friday, Oct 30No Class - Fall Break
Friday, Nov 20Last Date of Class before Thanksgiving Break
Nov 23 - Nov 27No Class - Thanksgiving Holiday
Monday, Nov 30Last Day of Classes (b)
Monday, Dec 7, 8:00 - 11:00Final "Exam"
Final Exam Conflicts Procedure for Exam Conflicts

NOTES:
(a) We will likely have one or two ZOOM LECTURES during the Fall Semester. Friday, September 4 will be one.
(b) There PROBABLY WILL be NO class on Monday, November 30.

Prerequisites

BCHE 3520 - Mass Transport and Rate Phenomena

Prerequisites by Topic

Differential Equations
Computer Programming
Stoichiometry and Fundamental Chemical Terms and Units
Chemical Equilibrium

Courses that Require this Course as a Prerequisite

None

Required Texts

  • Harrison, Todd, Rudge, Petrides, Bioseparations Science and Engineering, Oxford University Press
    First edition, 2003, ISBN 0-19-512340-9
    Second edition, 2015, ISBN 0-19-539181-0
  • Course Packet pdf. This is a collection of slides you will see this semester. You should receive this packet (digitally) just before the start of classes.

    Reference Texts

    Geankoplis, Transport Processes and Unit Operations, 3rd. ed., 1993, Prentice-Hall
    ISBN 0-13-930439-8
    Belter, Cussler, Hu, Bioseparations: Downstream Processing for Biotechnology, 1988, John Wiley and Sons
    ISBN 0-471-84737-2
    Dechow, Separation and Purification Techniques in Biotechnology, 1989, Noyes Publications
    ISBN 0-8155-1197-3
    Schweitzer, Handbook of Separation Techniques for Chemical Engineers, 2nd ed., 1988, McGraw-Hill
    ISBN 0-07-055808-6
    Ladisch, Bioseparations Engineering; Principles, Practice, and Economics, 2001, John Wiley and Sons
    ISBN 0-471-24476-7
    Svarovsky, Solid-Liquid Separation, 3rd. ed., 1990, Butterworth-Heinemann
    ISBN 0-7506-036-6

    Grading Policy

    Weighting of Course Components:

    UgradGrad
    Tests*67%60%
    Term Paper/Presentation ("Final")10%10%
    Zoom Literature Reviews (3)0%7%
    Homework13%13%
    Attendance and Participation10%10%
    * There will be 4 tests. For undergraduate students, the top three test scores will each have a weight of 19%; each student's lowest score will have a weight of 10%. Thus, student A with scores 75, 69, 82, 86 (tests 1-4) will have an overall test score average of 80.1 (=(0.19*(75+82+86)+0.10*69))/0.67), and student B with scores 84, 92, 58, 61 (tests 1-4) will have an overall test score of 75.9 (=(0.19*(84+92+61)+0.10*0.58)/0.67). (Test #2 is the lowest for student A, while Test #3 is the lowest for student B.) For graduate students, the top three test scores will each have a weight of 17%, and the lowest score will have a weight of 9%.

    Assignment of Grades:

    Weighted Course ScoreAssigned Grade
    0 - 39.99%F
    40.00 - 54.99%D
    55.00 - 69.99%C
    70.00 - 84.99%B
    85.00 - 100%A

    The instructor does assign grades of "+" or "-" for those students very close to the boundary between letter grades. For example, a final score of 71.2% will be assigned the course grade of "B-".

    Topics

    Analysis of Activity and Purity
    Lysis and Flocculation
    Filtration
    Sedimentation
    Extraction
    Chromatography
    Precipitation
    Crystallization

    Course Student Outcomes

    1) An ability to identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, sciences, and mathematicsextensive coverage
    2) an ability to apply engineering design to produce solutions that meet specified needs with consideration of public health, safety, and welfare, as well as global, cultural, social, environmental, and economic factors - moderate coverage
    3) an ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences - moderate coverage
    4) an ability to recognize ethical and professional responsibilities in engineering situations and make informed judgments, which must consider the impact of engineering solutions in global, economic, environmental, and societal contexts - moderate coverage
    5) an ability to function effectively on a team whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks, and meet objectives - some coverage
    6) an ability to develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions - some coverage
    7) an ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies. - some coverage

    Tests

    There will be four in-class tests during the semester. Tests will be announced at least one week before the date.

    Homework

    You must turn in paper solutions to homework (not scanned, not digital) by the beginning of class on the assigned due date† to receive full credit. I will not accept late homework. Please indicate the source for all information used in the solution of your homework problems. You are encouraged to discuss problems with other students, however, duplicating another student's work will be considered plagiarism, and this practice is unacceptable (see Academic Honesty below). If you receive considerable aid on a particular problem you are to indicate so on your homework. Neatness and clarity will be important factors in assigning homework grades. There will be no unannounced quizzes. For current information on homework, please see the BCHE 4520/6520 homework web page.

    † The only exception to the "paper solutions" rule is in the event you have a documented illness or emergency. If you just 'forgot your homework', I'll deduct 10% from that one homework score if you turn it in digitally. For digital submission, homework solutions and other assignments must be sent as an attachment to my email eiteman@engr.uga.edu by 12:00 pm noon on the published due date. The file(s) MUST have the following format for filenames: "Students Name (Last First) Course Number Assignment Name", in that order. If you attach multiple files, distinguish them with "A", "B", etc. For example, the following is an acceptable set of filenames for homework attachments:

    Homework may be in any readable file format (e.g., *.pdf, *.doc, *.jpg).

    Please pay careful attention to the quality of your 'scan': It is the student's responsibility to submit a readable homework, and unreadable files for whatever reason will receive a zero. Failure to include your name, the course number and the assignment name in any email attachment, delivered by the due time, will result in deduction of score on that assignment. PLEASE ALSO WRITE YOUR NAME ON THE DIGITAL HOMEWORK ITSELF!

    Written Assignments

    The term paper "Final" must be typewritten and double spaced. References should be list in alphabetical order beginning on a separate page at the end of the paper. References from web sites must be from federal government sites or from academic institutions (e.g., .gov or .edu). For advice on the preparation of a written report see Preparation of written reports. More details will be provided at the BCHE 4520/6520 homework web page.

    Literature Reviews

    Students registered for the Graduate Course (BCHE 6520) will complete three zoom literature reviews. For these, the course instructor will assign an article from the literature for the students to read and comprehend. Approximately 10 days after distributing this article, each student will be interviewed by zoom by the course instructor for an assessment of the assignment.

    Attendance

    There are 40 class meetings (which includes the four in-class tests, and the likely 'no class day' on Nov 30). A student must attend 38 class meetings to receive a full "attendance" score. Each absence beyond this number will result in a deduction of 8% in attendance score (about 1/2 letter score per absence, i.e., 38 days of attendance = 100% 37 days of attendance = 92 etc.). Note the being late for the class counts as a partial absence.

    Additionally, each student has two days which may be used for excused absences. Thus, a student with 2 excused absences and 2 unexcused absences, for example, would receive the full attendance score.

    A student may also receive credit for significant and meaningful participation in discussion both in class and out of class (i.e., in zHelp sessions). This credit is used as "bonus" to increase attendance score. The maximum "bonus" is 15%.

    Reasonable accommodations/exceptions will be made for students facing unusual circumstances or hardships (see Other section below). Please communicate with your instructor at eiteman@engr.uga.edu.

    The maximum attendance score is 100% regardless of attendance or participation.

    Academic Honesty

    All students are responsible for maintaining the highest standards of honesty and integrity in every phase of their academic careers. The penalties for academic dishonesty are severe and ignorance is not an acceptable defense. The UGA Student Honor Code states: "I will be academically honest in all of my academic work and will not tolerate academic dishonesty of others." A Culture of Honesty, the University's policy and procedures for handling cases of suspected dishonesty, can be found at Academic Honesty Policy.

    Mental Health and Wellness Resources

    If you or someone you know needs assistance, you are encouraged to contact Student Care and Outreach in the Division of Student Affairs at 706-542-7774 or visit sco.uga.edu. They will help you navigate any difficult circumstances you may be facing by connecting you with the appropriate resources or services. UGA has several resources for a student seeking mental health services (www.uhs.uga.edu/bewelluga/bewelluga) or crisis support (www.uhs.uga.edu/info/emergencies). If you need help managing stress anxiety, relationships, etc., please visit BeWellUGA (www.uhs.uga.edu/bewelluga/bewelluga) for a list of FREE workshops, classes, mentoring, and health coaching led by licensed clinicians and health educators in the University Health Center. Additional resources can be accessed through the UGA App.

    Communication Skills

    Spelling, grammar, punctuation, and clarity of writing are evidence of written communication quality. Enunciation, voice projection, clarity and logical order of the presentation and effective use of visual aids are evidence of oral communication quality.

    Engineering Professionalism

    The engineering profession is governed by a code of ethics that have developed alongside the rigors of the practice and its many contributions to society. Engineering students at the University of Georgia are responsible for maintaining the highest standards of professionalism and professional practice. Engineering faculty at the University of Georgia expect students to act in a professional manner at all times.

    Other

    A student may be withdrawn from this course by the instructor without notification to the student for failure to complete necessary prerequisites. A student may also be withdrawn from this course by the instructor after one warning for disruption of class. Ringing of a cell phone during the lecture constitutes a disruption of class.

    The instructor will provide students with an opportunity to complete academic responsibilities resulting from "excused" absences due to (for example) 1) observation of religious holidays, 2) significant illness, 3) death in family, 4) emergencies, 5) required job related travel, 6) participation in a sanctioned University sports event, 7) participation in a scientific conference. Generally, the instructor requires reasonable (~ one week) written notice of such absences when appropriate. Please communicate promptly with instructor such absences by email, including date and reason for absence, as well as evidence of absence where appropriate (e.g., illness) and proposed alternative for academic responsibilities. Excused absences do not alter the expectation of published deadlines for assignments. Although each circumstance will be assessed on a case-by-case basis, the typical approach will be to permit each student with a maximum of 2 excused absence during the semester that do not affect the attendance score.