L-Aspartic Acid → (2E)-2-Butenedioic acid calcium salt (1:1)

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A process for the preparation of aspartic acid via a fermentation process for the preparation of ammonium fumarate, wherein the pH of the fermentation broth is controlled by the addition of a calcium base to produce a calcium fumarate precipitate, characterised in that ammonium fumarate is produced by separating said precipitated calcium fumarate from said fermentation broth, and reacting said precipitate with a reagent selected from ammonia, ammonium carbonate, ammonia in combination with CO2 and mixtures thereof, to form ammonium fumarate solution and a co-product selected from calcium carbonate and calcium hydroxide, wherein the energy of indirect neutralisation of fumaric acid by ammonia serves as the driving force for the conversion of calcium fumarate to the desired ammonium fumarate product with a conversion yield of at least 90% and for the regeneration of a calcium base reagent, and wherein said ammonium fumarate product is enzymatically converted to ammonium aspartate and acidulated to form aspartic acid.

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