Abstract
Biotechnologically produced itaconic acid (IA) is a promising organic acid with a wide range of applications and the potential to open up new application fields in the area of polymer chemistry, pharmacy, and agriculture. In this study, a systematic process optimization was performed with an own isolated strain of Aspergillus terreus and transferred from a 250-mL to a 15-L scale. An IA concentration of 86.2 g/L was achieved within 7 days with an overall productivity of 0.51 g/(L h), a maximum productivity of 1.2 g/(L h), and a yield of 86 mol%. A cultivation of other well-known A. terreus strains with the developed process showed no significant differences. Based on this, a process is developed providing a high final IA concentration independent of the used strain combined with high reproducibility.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Batti M, Schweiger LB (1963) Process for the production of itaconic acid. US patent 3,078,217 (to Miles Laboratories)
Baup S (1837) Über eine neue pyrogen- citronensäure, und über benennung der pyrogen säure überhaupt. Ann de Chim et de Phys 19:29–38
Dwiarti L, Yamane K, Yamatani H, Kahar P, Okabe M (2002) Purification and characterization of cis-aconitic acid decarboxylase from Aspergillus terreus TN484-M1. J Biosci Bioeng 94:29–33
Gyamerah M (1995a) Factors affecting the growth form of Aspergillus terreus NRRL 1960 in relation to itaconic acid fermentation. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 44:356–361
Gyamerah MH (1995b) Oxygen requirement and energy relations of itaconic acid fermentation by Aspergillus terreus NRRL 1960. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 44:20–26
Jahnz U, Willke T, Vorlop KD (2003) Nachwachsende rohstoffe für die chemie. In: Fachagentur Nachwachsende Rohstoffe e.V (ed) 8th Symposium 2003. Schriftenreihe “Nachwachsende Rohstoffe”. Landwirtschaftsverlag GmbH, Gülzow, pp 523–529
Jarry A, Seraudie Y (1994) Procede de Production par Fermentation dÁcide itaconique. FR patent 2,702,492 (to Rhone-Poulenc Chimie)
Kautola H, Vahvaselka M, Linko YY, Linko P (1985) Itaconic acid production by immobilized Aspergillus-terreus from xylose and glucose. Biotechnol Lett 7:167–172
Larsen H, Eimhjellen KE (1955) Mechanism of itaconic acid formation by Aspergillus-terreus. 1. Effect of acidity. Biochem J 60:135–139
Lockwood LB (1975) Production of organic acids by fermentation. In: Peppler HJ, Perlman D (eds) Microbial technology, 2nd edn. Academic, New York, pp 356–386
Lockwood LB (1979) Production of organic acids by fermentation. In: Peppler HJ, Perlman D (eds) Microbial technology, 2nd edn. Academic, New York, pp 355–387
Lockwood LB, Reeves MD (1945) Some factors affecting the production of itaconic acid by Aspergillus terreus. Arch Biochem 6:455–469
Moyer AJ, Coghill RD (1945) The laboratory-scale production of itaconic acid by Aspergillus terreus. Arch Biochem 7:167–183
Nubel RC, Ratajak EJ (1962) Process for producing itaconic acid. US patent 3,044,941 (to Pfizer)
Okabe M, Ohta N, Park YS (1993) Itaconic acid production in an airlift bioreactor using a modified draft tube. J Ferment Bioeng 76:117–122
Okabe M, Lies D, Kanamasa S, Park EY (2009) Biotechnological production of itaconic acid and its biosynthesis in Aspergillus terreus. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 84:597–606
Papagianni M (2004) Fungal morphology and metabolite production in submerged mycelial processes. Biotechnol Adv 22:189–259
Park YS, Ohta N, Okabe M (1993) Effect of dissolved-oxygen concentration and impeller tip speed on itaconic acid production by Aspergillus-terreus. Biotechnol Lett 15:583–586
Park YS, Itida M, Ohta N, Okabe M (1994) Itaconic acid production using an airlift bioreactor in repeated batch culture of Aspergillus-terreus. J Ferment Bioeng 77:329–331
Pfizer (1972) Itaconsäure. Pfizer GmbH, Karlsruhe
Roehr M, Kubicek CP (1996) Products of primary metabolism. In: Rehm Reed, Pühler Stadler (eds) Biotechnology, vol 6. VCH, Weinheim, pp 307–345
Roehr M, Kubicek CP, Kominek J (1992) Industrial acids and other small molecules. In: Bennet JW, Klich MA (eds) Aspergillus: biology and industrial applications. Butterworth-Heinemann, Boston, pp 91–131
Tate BE (1981) Itaconic acid and derivatives. In: Grayson M Eckroth E (eds) Kirk-Othmer Encycl Chem Technol 3, pp 865–873
v.Fries H (1966) Verfahren zur fermentativen herstellung von itaconsäure durch submers-aerobe schimmelpilzgärung. DE Patent 1(219):430
Welter K (2000) Biotechnische Produktion von Itaconsäure aus nachwachsenden Rohstoffen mit immobilisierten Zellen. Dissertation, Technical University of Braunschweig
Willke T, Vorlop KD (2001) Biotechnological production of itaconic acid. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 56:289–295
Yahiro K, Takahama T, Park YS, Okabe M (1995) Breeding of Aspergillus-terreus mutant TN-484 for itaconic acid production with high-yield. J Ferm Bioeng 79:506–508
Yahiro K, Takahama T, Jai SR, Park YS, Okabe M (1997) Comparison of air-lift and stirred tank reactors for itaconic acid production by Aspergillus terreus. Biotechnol Lett 19:619–621
Acknowledgments
Many thanks for the financial support by the Fachagentur Nachwachsende Rohstoffe e.V. (grant no. 22008203) and the Südzucker AG.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Kuenz, A., Gallenmüller, Y., Willke, T. et al. Microbial production of itaconic acid: developing a stable platform for high product concentrations. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 96, 1209–1216 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00253-012-4221-y
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00253-012-4221-y