Crystallization process for highly purified succinic acid and synthesis of succinic anhydride from biological fermentation production

Abstract

Succinic acid, which is one of $C_4$ dicarboxylic acid, has various applications in industry. Recently, succinic acid and its derivatives have received a lot of attention as a biodegradable polymer produced by microbial fermentation. In this study, the effective crystallization process of succinic acid and the synthesis of succinic anhydride from fermentation broth were investigated for the application of industrial production. First, the final succinic acid crystal using the direct crystallization process was purified with above 99.9% purity and about 74% yield. Second, succinic anhydride was synthesized as an application of succinic acid derivative from the succinic acid crystal produced by this crystallization process. Third, disodium succinate was studied for the development of another crystallization process through anti-solvent crystallization process.