The report provides a detailed analysis essential for establishing a Malic Acid production plant. It encompasses all critical aspects necessary for Malic Acid production, including the cost of Malic Acid production, Malic Acid plant cost, Malic Acid production costs, and the overall Malic Acid production plant cost. Additionally, the study covers specific expenditures associated with setting up and operating a Malic Acid production plant. These encompass production processes, raw material requirements, utility requirements, infrastructure needs, machinery and technology requirements, manpower requirements, packaging requirements, transportation requirements, and more.
Malic Acid is an organic acid, which is found in majority of the fruits and is also widely used in food industry to intensify tanginess of fruit and vegetable juices. Malic Acid is used in producing food products to enhance the taste of the item being manufactured. It is widely used in vegetable juices, soft drinks, jams, wines, candies, and more. Malic Acid is also found in cosmetics products and is used to manufacture anti-aging creams and skin care products. Additionally, it is used as an alpha hydroxy acid that is used to secrete more saliva in people with dry mouth. It helps treat acne, fatigue, fibromyalgia, and wrinkled skin conditions.
The market for Malic Acid is extensively driven by its demand as a crucial component for producing food & beverage, cosmetic products for the food, chemical and cosmetic industries, respectively. Malic Acid is considered as an important intermediate which find its applications in nearly every field of industrial chemistry. Additionally, its utilization in the production of vegetable and fruit juices, flavoured jams and certain skin care products has increased its demand among the food and cosmetic industries to a great extent.
The industrial Malic Acid procurement is determined by a number of factors, such as availability and the cost of its raw materials (such as cellulose, Thin stillage, crude glycerol, etc.), logistics, the market prices of the product, its distribution which includes trading and shipping, etc. Therefore, the global procurement of Malic Acid is greatly influenced by its need as a vital supply for the food and textile sectors.
Raw Material for Malic Acid Production
According to the malic acid production plant project report, the major raw materials for malic acid production includes Thin stillage (acted upon by Aspergillus spp.); Crude glycerol (acted upon by Aspergillus spp. and Ustilago trichophora); maleic anhydride (in another way of production).
Production Processes of Malic Acid
The extensive Malic Acid production cost report consists of the following major industrial production processes:
- Production from Aspergillus niger: The production process of malic acid utilises a chemically induced mutant of Aspergillus niger MTCC 281 adapted to tolerate high levels of methanol and malic acid, enabling efficient utilisation of crude glycerol derived from biodiesel production without any pretreatment. The fermentation takes place for 192 hours at a temperature of 25 degree Celsius to synthesise malic acid. A. niger remains attractive due to its GRAS status, absence of toxin production, and ability to utilise renewable or waste carbon sources.
- Production from maleic anhydride: The industrial production of malic acid involves the chemical hydration of maleic anhydride with water or methanol to maleic acid under high temperature (180 degree Celsius) and pressure conditions, using a catalyst. The maleic acid is then isomerised to fumaric acid, which is hydrated to produce malic acid. The reaction mixture contains malic acid alongside fumaric acid and residual maleic acid. The final step requires cooling and crystallisation steps to separate and purify the malic acid product.
Malic Acid (C4H4O4) is a chemical compound that is commercially obtained from the hydration of the maleic anhydride compound under high pressure and temperature. It mainly comprises a chain of carbon atoms attached to four hydrogen and four oxygen atoms. Malic Acid is a colorless solid compound with a slight indistinctive odor. The crystalline solid compound is highly combustible in nature and, thus, reactive. Malic Acid is a chemical compound that is based on butenedioic acid and holds a double bond at its cis-(Z)-configuration.
It acts as a plant and an algal metabolite, which is used to grow and develop plants and other species. It has a strong astringent taste, and its melting and boiling points measure around 130.5° C and 355° C, respectively. It’s a combustible solid crystal that marks a flash point around 127° C. The compound is soluble in water and can be used to synthesize other commercial chemical compounds on a large scale.
