Fumaric acid is an organic compound with the formula HO2CCH=CHCO2H. A white solid, fumaric acid occurs widely in nature. It has a fruit-like taste and has been used as a food additive.
Fumaric acid can be prepared by fermentation by employing Rhizopus species. Recently, industrial-scale synthesis of fumaric acid from renewable feedstocks and lignocellulosic biomass has been proposed