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ePaper created 2017-03-14, 10:25:37 | version 1.49.03
CHEMISTRY AND PROCESS INDUSTRY pretreatment biomass novel production itaconic acid itaconic acid crystals novel production 1,4-butanediol 1,4-butanediol crystals applications poly-itaconate methyl-1,4-butanediol methyl-1,4-butanediamine methyl-THF methyl-GBL methyl-NMP methylpyrrolidine methacrylic acid itaconic diamine polybutylenes 1 PRODUCTION OF ITACONIC ACID – FERMENTATIVE PRODUCTION AND SCALE-UP K at ja Pat z s ch, A nd y L e s chnik , G e o rg - U llr i ch G e i g e r, Bj ö r n Vate r, Sus ann e Z ib e k Initial situation Itaconic acid Europe is preparing for the transition from a fossil fuel-based to a biobased economy. Because of the extensive opportuni- ties and the complexity of the theme, it is expected that this transition will take at least one to two decades. Currently, the initial position of Europe, especially in the biotechnological production of valuable chemicals from renewable biomass, is very good. Thereby, Europe is taking a leading role in researching the ield of industrial (white) biotechnology. Fur- thermore, Europe is distinguished as the leading global posi- tion in its chemical and food industry and its advanced logistic infrastructure, too. However, there is an essential requirement for the economic implementation of the research results for industrial processes in order to hold this leading position against faster-acting competing economies. Project Bio-QED Against this background, the consortium of the EU-funded Bio-QED project likes to show that biobased (basic) chemicals can be manufactured economically and at the same time in a sustainable manner on an industrial scale. This includes the compilation of all technical and economic key parameters that are required for the investment decision on the irst industrial production plants to produce the biobased basic chemicals such as 1,4-butanediol and itaconic acid (Fig. 1). Itaconic acid is an important dicarboxylic acid used as a platform chemical; for example, it serves as a co-monomer for the synthesis of emulsion polymers, as a substitute for petrochemically produced acrylic acid or for the production of paints and varnishes and biodegradable polymers in the packaging industry. Itaconic acid is produced biochemically by fermentation of sugar substrates with Aspergillus terreus (Fig. 2). Fermentation of itaconic acid The Industrial Biotechnology group of Fraunhofer IGB is work- ing on the development of fermentation processes at the laboratory scale. The Bio-QED project examined the extraction of spores from Aspergillus terreus for production prepara- tion and achieves a simpliied preparation method in which the fungus mycelium no longer needs to be separated from the spores for inoculation. Furthermore, different laboratory parameters such as temperature, salt concentration and the addition of glycerol to spores / spore-mycelia mixtures were investigated. For comparison and in preparation for the in- dustrial scale-up, experiments on the transfer of biomass at a ratio 1 to 10 were carried out. Furthermore, the group is researching the optimization of itaconic acid production. One focus is the inluence of pH on itaconic acid production. In experiments at the scale of shake lasks, a inal itaconic acid concentration of 137 g / L with a cultivation period of 14 days (Fig. 3) was reached. This was achieved by increasing pH once the pH had lowered below 1.8. The method is known from literature [1]. Adjustment of pH resulted in an increase of itaconic acid production. 74