Donald J. Kirwan
Professor and Co-Director of
Bioprocess Core Lab

Chemical Engineering Dept.
Chemical Engineering Bldg. 117E
P.O. Box 400741
University of Virginia
Charlottesville, VA 22908-4741


(434) 924-6278
djk@virginia.edu
http://www.che.virginia.edu

Education

B.S. ChE, Illinois Institute of Technology (1962)
M.S. ChE, University of Delaware (1964)
Ph.D. ChE, University of Delaware (1967)

Research
The research activities of our group lie in the areas of mass transfer and crystallization, biochemical engineering and benign chemical/ pharmaceutical processing.

The recovery of biochemicals by crystallization and precipitation is quite common in the bioprocess industry because of their ability to produce pure products of desired particle size. However, fundamental understanding of the solubility relations, nucleation rates, growth kinetics and particle morphology of these complex organics is often lacking. Current projects involve measurement and correlation of nucleation and growth rates and phase equilibrium for amino acids and lower molecular weight pharmaceuticals in aqueous-organic mixed solvents. A particular emphasis is on the production of fine crystals by very rapid precipitation processes which also involves experimental characterization and modeling of micromixing phenomena in precipitators. Related projects involve the rapid precipitation of biologically active proteins to avoid denaturation and retain biological activity. Recently, we have been exploring benign alternative precipitants for pharmaceuticals and proteins.

Improved bioreactors including enzyme, fermentation, and cell culturing processes are one aspect of the program. One current project is concerned with improved monitoring and neural network modeling techniques for fermentation processes. The use of environmentally benign solvents in biocatalysis is also under investigation.

Representative Publications

1. Desphande, S. and D. Kirwan, "Effect of Mixing on Size Distribution During Precipitation of Asparagine in an Agitated Crystallizer," Proc. 14th International Symposium on Industrial Crystallization. Cambridge, UK, 1999.
2. Kasprow, R., A. Lange and D.J. Kirwan, "Correlation of Fermentation Yield with Yeast Extract Composition as Characterized by Near IR Spectroscopy," Biotech..Progress, 14, 318-325 (1998)
3. Dandulakis, G., J.C. Herr, D. J. Kirwan, "Effect of Growth Factors and Antigen on Hybridoma Cell Culture Dynamics," Biotech. Bioengr., 54, 358-364 (1997).