Fumaric acid: fermentative production, applications and future perspectives

Abstract The rising prices of petroleum-based chemicals and the growing apprehension about food safety and dairy supplements have reignited interest in fermentation process to produce fumaric acid. This article reviews the main issues associated with industrial production of fumaric acid. Different approaches such as strain modulation, morphological control, selection of substrate and fermentative separation have been addressed and discussed followed by their potential towards production of fumaric acid at industrial scale is highlighted. The employment of biodegradable wastes as substrates for the microorganisms involved in fumaric acid synthesis has opened an economic and green route for production of the later on a commercial scale. Additionally, the commercial potential and technological approaches to the augmented fumaric acid derivatives have been discussed. Conclusion of the current review reveals future possibilities for microbial fumaric acid synthesis.