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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Peoria, Illinois » National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research » Bioenergy Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #333220
Research Project: Develop Technologies for Production of Platform Chemicals and Advanced Biofuels from Lignocellulosic Feedstocks

Location: Bioenergy Research

Title: Emerging biotechnologies for production of itaconic acid and its applications as a platform chemical

Author
item Saha, Badal

Submitted to: Journal of Industrial Microbiology and Biotechnology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/19/2016
Publication Date: 2/6/2017
Publication URL: http://handle.nal.usda.gov/10113/5743244
Citation: Saha, B.C. 2017. Emerging biotechnologies for production of itaconic acid and its applications as a platform chemical. Journal of Industrial Microbiology and Biotechnology. 44(2): 303-315. doi: 10.1007/s10295-016-1878-8.

Interpretive Summary: Recently, itaconic acid has attracted much attention as a biobased building block chemical. It is used as a monomer for production of superabsorbent polymers, resins, plastics, paints, and synthetic fibers. It has strong potential to replace petroleum based acrylic acid or methylacrylic acid for production of plastics which will create huge market for it. Itaconic acid is produced from glucose by fermentation with a fungal strain. The yield and production cost need to be lowered. Moreover, the agricultural biomass derived sugars (non-food source) should replace glucose used in industry. This timely review paper summarizes the latest progress on enhancing the yield and rate of itaconic acid production. The article is of great value to all academic, industrial, and government scientists who are working or planning to work on production of this important platform chemical.

Technical Abstract: Recently, itaconic acid (IA), an unsaturated C5-dicarboxylic acid, has attracted much attention as a biobased building block chemical. It is produced industrially (> 80 g L**-1) from glucose by fermentation with Aspergillus terreus. The titer is low compared with citric acid production (> 200 g L**-1). This review summarizes the latest progress on enhancing the yield and productivity of IA production. IA biosynthesis involves the decarboxylation of the TCA cycle intermediate cis-aconitate through the action of cis-aconitate decarboxylase (CAD) enzyme encoded by the CadA gene in A. terreus. A number of recombinant microorganisms have been developed in an effort to overproduce it. IA is used as a monomer for production of superabsorbent polymer, resins, plastics, paints, and synthetic fibers. Its applications as a platform chemical are highlighted. It has a strong potential to replace petroleum based methylacrylic acid in industry which will create huge market for IA.