Malic Acid Production from Glycerol with Ustilago trichophora TZ1

The large surplus of crude glycerol, the main waste in biodiesel production, has led to the search for possibilities for the production of value-added chemicals from this feedstock. However, new and efficient catalysts are needed to convert glycerol to versatile chemical building blocks.

Scientists, led by Thiemo Zambanini of the RWTH Aachen University in Germany, reports on the efficient synthesis of malate, a building-block chemical that can be used for the production of bio-degradable polymers from glycerol using Ustilago trichophora TZ1. Using adaptive laboratory evolution, the growth and production rate of the strain were increased. Further medium optimization increased the final titer, yield, and overall production rate.

The results obtained verify that U. trichophora TZ1 is a promising microbial host for malate production from crude glycerol. Since this production process uses an industrial waste as substrate, it greatly contributes to a sustainable bioeconomy.