How Bio-based Fumaric Acid is Produced
Key Pathways:
- Fermentation Using Fungi
- Filamentous fungi like Rhizopus oryzae and Rhizopus arrhizus naturally accumulate fumaric acid under aerobic conditions.
- Glucose or xylose is converted to pyruvate → oxaloacetate → fumarate via the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle.
- Fumarate is secreted extracellularly and crystallized during downstream recovery.
- Engineered Bacterial Systems
- E. coli and Saccharomyces cerevisiae have been metabolically engineered to overproduce fumarate using modified TCA flux and overexpression of fumarase.
- New strains aim to use lignocellulosic sugars or glycerol.
- Integrated Biorefinery Routes
- Produced as a co-product in biorefineries focused on succinic acid or itaconic acid, using wheat bran, corn stover, or other agro-residues.
Feedstocks: Glucose, xylose, corn steep liquor, lignocellulosic hydrolysates, crude glycerol.
Case Study: DSM – Fermentation of Fumaric Acid at Industrial Scale
Highlights:
- Dutch-based DSM demonstrated fermentative production of fumaric acid using Rhizopus strains from glucose-rich syrup.
- Application focus on food additives and resin precursors.
Timeline & Outcome:
- 2006–2008: Lab-scale fungal fermentation optimized for high titer (~90 g/L).
- 2009–2012: DSM ran pilot-scale production and filed patents for downstream crystallization.
- 2013: Joint discussions initiated with resin manufacturers for bio-polyester applications.
- 2022–2023: Process and IP portfolio transferred to Veramaris and other DSM green chemistry arms.
Global Startups and Companies in Bio-fumaric Acid
- Myriant Corporation (USA) – Worked on co-producing fumaric acid in succinic acid fermentation setups.
- DSM (Netherlands) – Developed fungal-based production routes for food-grade fumaric acid.
- BioAmber (Canada) – Explored bio-fumarate as co-product in succinate production.
- C-Tech Innovation (UK) – Developed electrofermentation-assisted fumarate production.
India’s Position
- India currently imports fumaric acid for food and resin sectors, with no major local bio-based producers.
- Startups like String Bio and Godavari Biorefineries could potentially integrate fumarate as a co-product.
- India’s ethanol economy and molasses infrastructure support feedstock availability for future scaling.
Commercialization Outlook
Market & Demand
- Global market: ~$300 million (2024), growing at ~5.5% CAGR.
- Applications:
- Food and beverage acidulant (E297)
- Unsaturated polyester resins
- Pharmaceuticals and dietary supplements
- Bio-based solvents and polymers
Key Drivers
- Rising demand for bio-resins and plasticizers.
- Preference for non-GMO, natural acidulants in food and nutraceuticals.
- Potential integration with lignocellulosic biorefineries.
- Strong interest from resin and coating manufacturers in Europe and Japan.
Challenges to Address
- Crystallization bottlenecks during downstream recovery from broth.
- Risk of low yields in engineered bacterial systems without careful pH control.
- Competitive pricing against maleic anhydride-derived fumaric acid.
- Lack of commercial fermentation setups dedicated solely to fumarate.
Progress Indicators
- Pre-2000: Fumaric acid mostly made via chemical synthesis from petrochemicals.
- 2006–2012: DSM and Myriant scaled fungal-based fermentation with good yields.
- 2015–2022: BioAmber and others explored coproduction in succinate facilities.
- 2023–2024: Indian researchers demonstrate pilot-scale production from agro-waste under CSIR funding.
Fermentation-based production of fumaric acid is at TRL 8–9 globally, with successful pilot and commercial operations. In India, TRL is 5–6, with strong academic output but limited commercial activity.
Conclusion
Bio-based fumaric acid offers a drop-in replacement for its petrochemical counterpart in food, pharma, and polymer markets, with the added benefits of renewability and biodegradability. Global leaders like DSM and Myriant have validated fungal fermentation as a viable route, and innovation in electrofermentation and co-product valorization is expanding the scope. India’s rich biomass streams and growing fermentation ecosystem make it a promising player — provided academic developments are scaled with industrial investment and policy support. As the green chemical market matures, bio-fumaric acid can anchor future sustainable polymer and food additive supply chains.
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