From beet molasses to malic acid: holistic development of fermentation and downstream process.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The growing demand for sustainable alternatives to fossil-based chemicals has increased interest in platform chemicals derived from renewable biomass sources, such as malic acid. This C4 dicarboxylic acid is valued for its diverse application potential in food, pharmaceuticals, and bioplastics. Sustainable platform chemicals remain commercially uncompetitive primarily due to high production costs driven by high substrate costs. Microbial production using more cost-effective feedstocks like sugar beet molasses shows promise. However, it faces challenges from high osmolality, growth inhibitors, and predetermined substrate composition during fermentation, as well as elevated pigmentation that complicates downstream processing. Moreover, the separation techniques typically u

SUBMITTER: Grebe LA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12930559 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature