Downstream Processing; Applications and Recent Updates

Industrial fermentation comprises upstream and downstream processing. Downstream processing includes all the unit operations following the fermentation process. Downstream processing of the industrial products like metabolites, enzymes, biomolecules, food grade chemical, nutraceuticals, etc., requires recovering, extracting and purification from a complex mixture of molecules and impurities by a series of unit operations. Each unit operation will bring about a chemical and physical change well as the desired grade that will alter the product concentration and degree of purity. The primary aim of downstream processing is to recover the target product with the required specifications in an efficient and safest manner as well maximize the recovery yield with minimum costs. In the current chapter several unit operations of recovery, extraction and purification of industrial products are discussed. An attempt has also been made to review the current and potential applications of downstream processing for purification of various industrial and pharmaceutical products.