Production of Itaconic Acid Through Microbiological Fermentation of Inexpensive Materials

Itaconic acid (IA) is a precursor of various chemicals, which has been on the US Department of Energy's list of the top 12 platform chemicals that can potentially be produced from biomass. The IA is mainly produced through a bio-fermentation method with sugar as raw material. However, the high cost and low yield restrict the industrial application of the IA. This review summarized research advances in the IA production from alternative substrates. In particular, the types of substrates as well as existing problems in the IA fermentation, strain breeding, and process regulation were discussed. And it is pointed that decreasing the price of the IA with alternative substrates and increasing the titer through genetic engineering should be further focused on to support the industrialization of the IA. Keywords:itaconic acid; fermentation; Aspergillus terreus; biomass