course-details-portlet

BT8135 - Biopolymers Advanced Course I

About

Examination arrangement

Examination arrangement: School exam
Grade: Passed / Not Passed

Evaluation Weighting Duration Examination aids
School exam 100/100 4 hours D

Course content

The chemical structure of biopolymers, nomenclature and reactions. Physical dimensions and chain rigidity. Conformations and conformation changes. Molecular weight distribution. Thermodynamic properties of biopolymers with emphasis on polyelectrolytes. Depolymerisation: chemistry and kinetics. Theoretical basis and laboratory exercises connected to experimental techniques: viscosity and intrinsic viscosity, osmosis, light scattering, chromatographic methods.

Learning outcome

After finishing this course, the students are expected to: - Know the structure and properties of important polysaccharides in biotechnology, including the understanding of sequence parameters in alginates. - Be able to, based on a given chemical structure, understand and predict certain physichal properties of a biopolymer, and how these are influenced by external factors (pH, I, T). - Know the principles behind experimental determination of molecular weight distribution (and its various averages). - Determine the shape and extension in solution of a biopolymer, base don physical data. - Use simple methods for depolymerisation of polysaccharides: kinetics and reaction mechanisms.

Learning methods and activities

The course is coordinated with TBT4135 with some overlap. Lectures, theoretical exercises, laboratory work. Project report. The course will be given in English if international students are taking the course. Exam: Written. If there is a re-sit examination, the examination form may be changed from written to oral.

Specific conditions

Admission to a programme of study is required:
Biotechnology (PHBIOT)

Course materials

B.E. Christensen: Compendium. Selected review and research articles.

Credit reductions

Course code Reduction From To
TBT4135 7.5 AUTUMN 2011
More on the course

No

Facts

Version: 1
Credits:  7.5 SP
Study level: Doctoral degree level

Coursework

Term no.: 1
Teaching semester:  AUTUMN 2024

Language of instruction: English

Location: Trondheim

Subject area(s)
  • Biotechnology
  • Technological subjects
Contact information
Course coordinator: Lecturer(s):

Department with academic responsibility
Department of Biotechnology and Food Science