Biotechnology Field
Introduction of Research Activities in Biotechnology Field by an Integrated multidiscipline team in CEMS, YZU
Biotechnology is increasingly important as a tool for global sustainable development. The applications are driven by consumer demand for new products and by industrial attempts at increasing profits and cost reduction, as well as new technologies and scientific discovery. The research and development of biotechnology in CEMS mainly focuses upon the applications in environment, energy technology and materials science. Besides, the integration of research energy within departments is energetic for the purpose of development of prospective biotechnologies. The current research interests are listed as following:
(1) Bio-surfactant - surfactin
Research Project: Process development of surfactin production by microorganisms
Supervisor: Ruey-Shin Juang, Ph.D. (Dean, College of Engineering; Professor of Department of Chemical Engineering and Material Science)
This is an integrated project that is proceeded not only by the joint team of faculties of Department of Chemical Engineering and Material Science and Graduate School of Biotechnology and Bioengineering, but also research teams from other University (National Cheng Kung University and Chang Gung University). The research is aimed to industrialize the surfactin product in respect of upstream and downstream processing.
The research topics include:
(1) Surfactin producing microorganisms and strain improvement
(2) Factors that affect surfactin production
(3) Fermentation strategy
(4) Several strategies for scale up production
(5) Bioreactor design
(6) Process for purification
Team members (Principle investigators):
Yi-Ming Sun, Ph.D. (Professor of Department of Chemical Engineering and Material Science, YZU)
Ho-Shing Wu, Ph.D. (Professor of Department of Chemical Engineering and Material Science, YZU)
Hsin-Chih Lai, Ph.D. (Professor of Department of Medical Biotechnology and Laboratory Science, CGU)
Yu-Hong Wei, Ph.D. (Professor, Graduate School of Biotechnology and Bioengineering, YZU)
Chih-Ching Chien, Ph.D. (Professor, Graduate School of Biotechnology and Bioengineering, YZU)
Shieh-Shiuh Kung, Ph.D. (Professor, Graduate School of Biotechnology and Bioengineering, YZU)
Jo-Shu Chang, Ph.D. (Professor of Department of Chemical Engineering, NCKU)
(2) Bioenergy
Research Project: Process development of microbial fuel cell (MFC)
Supervisor: Ruey-Shin Juang, Ph.D. (Dean, College of Engineering; Professor of Department of Chemical Engineering and Material Science)
An integrated research team with multidiscipline is formed to focus on the research of biofuel cells that generate energy from the biological (microbial and enzyme) system and photosynthesis system. The process of production and purification of the related enzymes is also studied. This project is undertaken in laboratories of Department of Chemical Engineering and Material Science and Graduate School of Biotechnology and Bioengineering at Yuan Ze University. The research interests are described as following:
The research topics include:
(1) Development of microbial and enzymatic biofuel cells
(2) Fermentation process of microbial system and enzyme for biofuel application
(3) Separation and Purification of Enzymes for Enzymatic Fuel Cell Systems
(4) Immobilization of the enzyme for Enzymatic Fuel Cell Systems
(5) Development of Phototrophic Microbial-based Fuel Cell
Team members (Principle investigators):
Ho-Shing Wu, Ph.D. (Professor of Department of Chemical Engineering and Material Science, YZU)
Yu-Hong Wei, Ph.D. (Professor of Graduate School of Biotechnology and Bioengineering, YZU)
Chih-Ching Chien, Ph.D. (Professor of Graduate School of Biotechnology and Bioengineering, YZU)
John Chi-Wei Lan, Ph.D. (Professor of Department of Chemical Engineering and Material Science, YZU)
(3) The development and application of Polyhydroxyalkanoates
Project: Biological polyesters: Process development and applications of PHAs
Supervisor: Yi-Ming Sun (Dean, Office of Research and Development; Professor of Department of Chemical Engineering and Material Science)
This project is to develop the production process of PHAs (polyhydroxyalkanoates), biodegradable polyesters, including upstream (construction of producing microbial systems and fermentation) as well as downstream processes (product separation, purification, identification and applications). The project has been initiated for three years since 2004 by the integrated research team with faculties from two department of Yuan Ze University. The ambition of project is to establish an industrial process and standard of product application. It includes 3 major sub-projects and is details as following：
Subproject 1: Construction and improvement of industrial strains of PHAs-producing microorganisms.
Principle investigators
Chih-Ching Chien, Ph.D. (Professor of Graduate School of Biotechnology and Bioengineering, YZU)
Po-Chi Soo, Ph.D. (Professor of Graduate School of Biotechnology and Bioengineering, YZU)
Subproject 2: Development and characterization of bio-processing for PHAs production
Principle investigators
Ho-Shing Wu, Ph.D. (Professor of Department of Chemical Engineering and Material Science, YZU)
Yu-Hong Wei, Ph.D. (Professor of Graduate School of Biotechnology and Bioengineering, YZU)
John Chi-Wei Lan, Ph.D. (Professor of Department of Chemical Engineering and Material Science, YZU)
Subproject 3: Application and characterization of PHAs product
Principle investigators
Yi-Ming Sun (Dean, Office of Research and Development; Professor of Department of Chemical Engineering and Material Science)
Shinn-Gwo Hong (Professor of Department of Chemical Engineering and Material Science)