Chapter 4 - Applications of itaconic acid in biofuel production

Abstract

One of the most important classes of compounds obtained from lignocellulose biomass is organic acids. Bio-based organic acids are products that are derived from different biomass sources, which are sustainable, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly. Among these, itaconic acid (IA), together with its derivatives, is an essential renewable chemical because it has various uses in the pharmaceutical and food industry, and also presents a feasible substitute for unsaturated acids like acrylic, methacrylic, maleic, fumaric acid, and their derivatives. Integration of IA in polymers is very efficient. IA is an unsaturated dicarboxylic acid (C5H6O4), also known as 2-methylenebutanedioic acid, propylene dicarboxylic acid, or 2-methylenesuccinic acid. IA is highly soluble in water and alcohols, stable at average temperatures, and, being a weak acid, it is also stable in middle-basic, neutral, and acidic conditions. It has the appearance of white crystalline powder or crystals, and it is odor-free. The variation of IA's functional groups makes it an efficient intermediate to produce different complex organic compounds. It can participate in a wide variety of reactions like esterification with alcohols, salt formation with metals, production of anhydride, polymerization, and additional reactions. Recent trends in IA research indicate that IA can be produced cost effectively from sustainable raw materials and has the potential to replace petro-based chemicals in various applications.