Introduction

Abstract

As the world is becoming increasingly concerned with sustainability and the impact of global warming with the dependence on petroleum, the chemical industry is more actively embracing “green” and looking for bio-based solutions. The production of chemicals through fermentation processes based on sugar feedstocks has the potential to considerably reduce the chemical industry's dependence on fossil-based feedstock; energy intensive, expensive processes; and capital-intensive plants. Succinic acid, a four-carbon dicarboxylic acid, is such a building block with a relatively modest existing market, but with much promise for future growth. The US Department of Energy identified succinic acid as one of the best targets and top value-added chemicals that could be derived from biomass via fermentation because living cells produce this compound naturally. Succinic acid is an important platform molecule, widely used as an intermediate for the production of numerous everyday consumer products, pharmaceuticals, and adhesives, representing a total immediate addressable market in excess of $7.2 billion. In this article, an analysis of the current succinic acid market, biological-based production processes, the enzymatic regulation, and the recovery system of succinic acid are discussed. This biologically produced succinic acid is a beacon for the chemical industries as being “green” in nature.