Techno economic analysis of malic acid production using crude glycerol derived from waste cooking oil

[Display omitted] •Malic acid was produced from crude glycerol using A. niger PJR1.•Simulation of 10000 kg malic acid per batch was performed.•Techno economic anlaysis of malic acid production was analysed.•Direct fixed cost was the major cost affecting the production. In the present work, Aspergillus niger was employed to produce commercially valuable malic acid from crude glycerol derived from waste cooking oil. Crude glycerol dosage, yeast extract dosage and initial pH were the influencing factors playing a significant role in the malic acid synthesis. The optimal condition for malic acid biosynthesis was studied by using response surface methodology. Further the feasibility analysis for biosynthesis of malic acid from crude glycerol was studied using the laboratory scale optimized data, with this experimentally optimized data, plant was simulated using SuperPro Designer (v10). The cost involved for malic acid synthesis per unit volume was likely expected to be $0.43/kg of malic acid using reactive extraction method. Thus, process optimization combined with techno-economical analysis of malic acid production could be beneficial.