
Production of Organic Acids by Simultaneous Fermentation and AdsorptionAward last edited on: 11/26/2002
Sponsored Program
SBIRAwarding Agency
USDATotal Award Amount
$340,750Award Phase
2Solicitation Topic Code
-----Principal Investigator
George T TsaoCompany Information
General Resource Technology Inc
4200 N 300 West
West Lafayette, IN 47906
West Lafayette, IN 47906
(765) 463-6043 |
N/A |
N/A |
Location: Single
Congr. District: 04
County: Tippecanoe
Congr. District: 04
County: Tippecanoe
Phase I
Contract Number: 00-33610-8907Start Date: 00/00/00 Completed: 00/00/00
Phase I year
2000Phase I Amount
$70,000Anticipated Results/Potential Commercial Applications of Research:
An approximate analysis has shown that the production cost of fumaric acid by the new bioprocess is about $0.31/LB. The current listed price for fumaric acid is $0.85/LB. Fumaric acid has many well established industrial uses. Fumaric acid is also the feedstock for several organic acids of potentially very large market volumes. Fumaric acid can be easily converted into aspartic acid which is used in the manufacture of artificial sweeteners, biodegradable polymers and detergents. Fumaric acid can also be converted into malic acid which competes with citric acid in many applications including the soft drinks. In addition, fumaric acid is the raw material for producing succinic acid which is useful as a monomer for producing a new class of polyesters. All counted, the potential market demand for fumaric acid can be as large as that of citric acid, lactic acid and glycerol with an annual market value of several billion dollars.
Phase II
Contract Number: 2001-33610-11071Start Date: 00/00/00 Completed: 00/00/00
Phase II year
2001Phase II Amount
$270,750Anticipated Results/Potential Commercial Applications of Research:
The production cost of glycerol is estimated at $0.45/lb by fermentation, comparing with a market price of $0.85lb. The large difference makes this process very profitable. It has attracted strongly industrial interests. GRT will provide follow-on funding of $275,000 from its internal resource for Phase III. Meanwhile, GRT is negotiating with two companies for licensing and for joint production ventures. Annual glycerol demand was given in an USDA report as 1.2 billion pounds. It is growing steadily. Two new potential uses will stimulate further demand growth. One is the use of glycerol in drilling mud formula for oil wells. Another is the conversion into 1,3-propanediol through a 2-step process that has been shown to be very effective. The new industry, once established, will benefit agriculture significantly.