Itaconic Acid Production by Microorganisms: A Review

Itaconic acid \((C_5 H_6 O_4)\) is an organic acid with a unique structure and characteristics. To promote the bio-based economy, the US Department of Energy (DOE) assigned a "top-12" list of platform chemicals, which includes numerous organic acids. In particular, di-carboxylic acids like itaconic acid can be used as monomers for bio-polymers. Thus, the need to produce itaconic acid has attracted much attention. The favored production process is the fermentation of carbohydrates by fungi, and Aspergillus terreus is the most frequently employed commercial producer of itaconic acid. This review reports the current status of the use of microorganisms in enhancing productivity.