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Freshman Chemical Engineering Experiment: Charged up on Electrophoresis & Brewing with Bioreactors

Adrienne R. Minerick, and Kirk H. Schulz

Dave C. Swalm School of Chemical Engineering / James Worth Bagley College of Engineering Mississippi State University

Abstract

A freshman Introduction to Chemical Engineering seminar course can be a useful part of the undergraduate curriculum. Goals for such a course range from gaining an appreciation for chemical engineering manufacturing processes and safety, to an overview of the subject areas students will become proficient in by the time they graduate. This article discusses two experiments, Charged Up on Electrophoresis and Brewing with Bioreactors, which are used to enhance the introductory chemical engineering experience. Electrophoresis and bioreactor processes are brought to life via an introductory lecture, assignments, and a simple desktop experiment that utilizes inexpensive supplies to demonstrate electrophoretic separations and bioprocessing. Advantages of these hands-on experiences include that they are not dependent on the availability of lab space, and students have a unique experience to link into their evolving understanding of chemical engineering concepts. Complete supply lists, pre-assignment exercises, experimental procedures, and lab mats are discussed for both experiments and available for instructor use.

Keywords: Freshman course, Electrophoresis, Bioreactor, Experiment, Inexpensive equipment

Introduction

At Mississippi State University, our 1-credit hour freshman seminar course has been designed to introduce students to the Chemical Engineering field. The class meets once a week for 50 minutes with about 15 contact sessions in the fall semester. The objectives of the course are multifaceted and include having the students • Gain an appreciation and knowledge of chemical engineering as a career, • Perform laboratory activities that illustrate key chemical engineering concepts, • Gain experience in oral and written communication skills, • Gain an appreciation for chemical manufacturing processes, • Be introduced to MSU chemical engineering faculty and the curriculum.

Laboratory activities are valuable instrumental tools that tie these objectives together. This paper discusses two such laboratory experiments, Charged up on Electrophoresis and Brewing with

Proceedings of the 2005 American Society for Engineering Education Annual Conference & Exposition Copyright © 2005, American Society of Engineering Education

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Schulz, K., & Minerick, A. (2005, June), Freshman Experiments: Charged Up On Electrophoresis & Brewing With Bioreactors Paper presented at 2005 Annual Conference, Portland, Oregon. 10.18260/1-2--15105