FUMARIC ACID FOR SYNTHESIS
Fumaric acid is currently produced by isomerization of maleic acid, which is produced from maleic anhydride. Maleic anhydride, in turn, is industrially produced by catalytic oxidation of suitable hydrocarbons in the gas phase. ... The catalysts applied in this process are based on vanadium and phosphorus oxides.
As a food additive, it is used as an acidity regulator and can be denoted by the E number E297. It is generally used in beverages and baking powders for which requirements are placed on purity. Fumaric acid is used in the making of wheat tortillas as a food preservative and as the acid in leavening.
Fumaric acid is an important specialty chemical with wide for the synthesis of polymeric resins to acidulant in foods and pharmaceuticals.