Malic acid production via PMA fermentation by Aureobasidium pullulans was studied.
High PMA production was obtained from soybean hull hydrolysate and soy molasses.
Soy molasses is the cheaper feedstock without needing prior enzymatic hydrolysis.
Malic acid can be produced from soy molasses at $1.10/kg for a 5000 MT plant.
This offers an economical process for industrial production of biobased malic acid.