Fumaric acid: Applications and Production Methods

General Description

Fumaric acid, a versatile compound, plays pivotal roles across various industries. In the food sector, it serves as a valuable additive and acidulant, providing buffering capacity and enhancing flavor profiles. In livestock feed, fumaric acid aids in improving feed efficiency and reducing methane production, promoting sustainable farming practices. Furthermore, in medical and biotechnological fields, fumaric acid derivatives show promise in pharmaceuticals and tissue engineering, driving innovation. Production methods encompass petrochemical routes with advancements towards greater efficiency and sustainability, alongside enzymatic and microbial processes offering greener alternatives for fumaric acid synthesis. These diverse applications underscore the significance of fumaric acid in driving advancements across multiple domains.

Figure 1. Fumaric acid

Applications

Food and Farming Industry Applications

Fumaric acid finds widespread application in the food and farming industry due to its versatility and efficacy as a nutritional additive, acidulant, flavoring agent, and antimicrobial agent. It is commonly used in various food products such as wheat and corn tortillas, sour dough and rye breads, refrigerated biscuit doughs, fruit juice and nutraceutical drinks, gelatin desserts, pie fillings, and wine. The buffering capacity of fumaric acid at pH near 3.0 surpasses that of other food acids, making it a cost-effective substitute for tartaric and citric acid while maintaining the desired taste profile. Additionally, fumaric acid serves as a vital intermediate product in the synthesis of organic acids like L-malic acid and L-aspartic acid, which are extensively used in food, health, and cosmetic formulations.

Livestock Feed Efficiency Enhancement

Supplementation of ruminants' diet with fumaric acid has proven beneficial in improving feed efficiency by boosting propionate production and reducing methanogenesis. In agricultural practices, fumaric acid has shown promise as a viable alternative to conventional antibiotic growth promoters, resulting in a marked enhancement in the feed-to-gain ratio in dairy and poultry industries. These applications highlight the valuable role of fumaric acid in promoting sustainable and efficient livestock farming practices, aligning with the growing emphasis on eco-friendly and economically viable agricultural solutions.

Medical and Biotechnological Innovations

Innovative applications of fumaric acid and its esters, such as methyl, ethyl, and propylfumarates, extend into diverse fields like neurology, immunology, dermatology, and bio-nanotechnology. Regulatory bodies like the US FDA have granted approval for the use of fumaric acid derivatives in the synthesis of medications for various conditions, including iron deficiency anemia and multiple sclerosis. In the realm of tissue engineering, fumaric acid-based hydrogels are being researched for their potential in developing tailored solutions for tissue repair and regeneration. These biopolymers show promise in applications ranging from bone repair surgery to cardiovascular interventions, demonstrating the expanding scope of fumaric acid's contributions to cutting-edge medical and biotechnological advancements. ¹

Production Methods

Production by petrochemical routes

Fumaric acid production through petrochemical routes involves key steps starting with the conversion of maleic anhydride to maleic acid followed by the cis–trans isomerization to produce fumaric acid. Traditionally utilizing benzene as a primary raw material, recent advancements have seen a shift towards the oxidation of n-butane or n-butane/n-butene mixtures for enhanced efficiency and sustainability. During the process, a side product of water is formed, which can be directly condensed from the reaction gas. Fractional distillation is then employed to separate maleic anhydride from the solvent, with the solvent recycled back into the absorption column. The conversion of maleic acid to fumaric acid typically involves thermal or catalytic isomerization, with the latter yielding near-quantitative conversion. Despite the efficient conversion process, the petrochemical route faces challenges such as environmental contamination from byproducts and high energy consumption due to reliance on costly raw materials. Exploring alternative, environmentally friendly biotechnological methods using low-cost carbon sources like apple juice, lignocellulose, or glycerol presents a promising avenue for sustainable fumaric acid production.

Enzymatic and Microbial Production

Fumaric acid can be produced through enzymatic and microbial processes, offering sustainable alternatives to traditional chemical synthesis methods. Enzymatic conversion of maleic acid to fumaric acid involves the utilization of maleate isomerase enzymes produced by various microorganisms like Pseudomonas, Arthrobacter, Bacillus stearothermophilus, and Bacillus brevis. Researchers have highlighted the significance of thermostable maleate isomerases from Bacillus species in enhancing the fumaric acid production process. Additionally, employing whole-cell catalysis instead of isolated enzymes has shown promise in enhancing productivity and reducing production costs in this bioconversion process.

On the other hand, microbial fermentation, particularly using filamentous fungi from Rhizopus species like R. oryzae and R. arrhizus, has emerged as an effective method for fumaric acid production. These fungi demonstrate simplicity in nutrient requirements and can perform fermentation under both aerobic and anaerobic conditions, leading to significant fumaric acid yields. Optimal fermentation parameters, including nutrient concentrations and growth limitations, play a crucial role in achieving high fumaric acid yields, emphasizing the importance of a well-controlled two-phase fermentation strategy for enhanced production efficiency. ^1,2

Reference

1. Ilica RA, Kloetzer L, Galaction AI, Caşcaval D. Fumaric acid: production and separation. Biotechnol Lett. 2019; 41(1): 47-57.

2. Sebastian J, Hegde K, Kumar P, Rouissi T, Brar SK. Bioproduction of fumaric acid: an insight into microbial strain improvement strategies. Crit Rev Biotechnol. 2019; 39(6): 817-834.

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