Citric acid: emerging applications of key biotechnology industrial product

Abstract

Owing to new biotechnological production units mostly located in China, global supply of citric acid in the course of the last two decades rose from less than 0.5 to more than 2 million tonnes becoming the single largest chemical obtained via biomass fermentation and the most widely employed organic acid. Critically reviewing selected research achievements and production trends, we identify the reasons for which this polycarboxylic acid will become a key chemical in the emerging bioeconomy.Graphical abstractPalermo's Fabbrica Chimica Italiana Goldenberg today. In 1930 it was Europe’s largest citric acid plant (photo courtesy of Aldo Ferrande)

Screening various Yarrowia lipolytica strains for citric acid production

“…The minimum CA selling price has been reported as $0.6 per kilogram (Hou & Bao, ). Its global production rate has reached more than 2 million tons annually in 2015 with an expected growth of 3.7% per year till 2020 (Ciriminna, Meneguzzo, Delisi, & Pagliaro, ). Approximately, 70% of this quantity is used by the food industry, 20% in the production of washing powders, and 10% in pharmaceutical and chemical industries.…”

“…As food additives, it is employed as acidifier, antioxidant, emulsifier, flavouring agent, stabilizer, and preservative. Due to its Generally Regarded as Safe (GRAS) status, CA has also usage in manufacturing pharmaceutical drugs, cosmetic, and detergent products (see also reviews; Apelblat, ; Cavallo, Charreau, Cerrutti, & Foresti, ; Ciriminna et al, ; Show et al, ).…”

Food waste as a source of value‐added chemicals and materials: a biorefinery perspective

“…Citric acid (2-hydroxy-1,2,3-propanetricarboxylic acid, C 6 H 8 O 7 , CA) is a widely known tricarboxylic acid employed in a myriad of applications as preservative, acidulant, emulsifier, flavour and buffer in several food, pharmaceutical, cosmetic and nutraceutical products, apart from its use in metal finishing, being the food and beverage sector the leader of CA consumption (Ciriminna et al, 2017). Fermentative routes and processes developed using moulds from the genus Penicillium and Aspergillus (in particular Aspergillus niger) have allowed higher yearly productions.…”

“…Fermentative routes and processes developed using moulds from the genus Penicillium and Aspergillus (in particular Aspergillus niger) have allowed higher yearly productions. The most common processes are based on submerged fermentation, which use raw materials like sugarcane and beet molasses and maize starch, lime as basic precipitation agent and sulphuric acid as acidulant (Ciriminna et al, 2017). China is the country behind the highest share of CA production, whereas the companies that lead the CA sector are as follows: Archer Daniels Midland, Cargill, COFCO Biochemical (Anhui), Gadot Biochemical Industries and Jungbunzlauer Suisse.…”

“…China is the country behind the highest share of CA production, whereas the companies that lead the CA sector are as follows: Archer Daniels Midland, Cargill, COFCO Biochemical (Anhui), Gadot Biochemical Industries and Jungbunzlauer Suisse. The most common processes are based on submerged fermentation, which use raw materials like sugarcane and beet molasses and maize starch, lime as basic precipitation agent and sulphuric acid as acidulant (Ciriminna et al, 2017). However, FW can even reduce the cost of raw materials, and processes have been studied at laboratory scale to such end (Kosseva, 2013).…”