Itaconic Acid–Based Compounds Fulfilling the Role of Biotechnologically Produced Alternatives to Fossil-Based Precursors for Material Applications

Abstract

Itaconic acid (IA) attracts significant attention in several application fields, including the materials industry, due to its solid-state form, which is associated with lower volatility and toxicity, and its exceptional potential for chemical functionalization. This debate presents numerous positive aspects of itaconate-based materials for specific applications, such as additive manufacturing, composite fabrication, coating production, adhesive synthesis, textile additives incorporation, and particular engineering for hydrogels. We evaluate many of the efficient viewpoints and advantages itaconic acid offers for the currently engineered systems that use fossil-based compounds and precursors. Unlike similar functional molecules and species, such as acrylates, methacrylates, or vinyl esters, itaconic acid’s liquid derivatives exhibit negligible volatility, thereby reducing potential health hazards and VOC emissions. Moreover, countless derivatives can be proposed and synthesized when appropriate nucleophiles are selected (e.g., alcohols, amines, and others). Due to the two vacant carboxyl acid groups (−COOH), itaconic acid can be incorporated into multicomponent polyesters, polyethers, polyamides, or other functional systems to enhance their performance, improve processability, or ensure degradability. Finally, itaconates provide a route to biocompatible and degradable/biodegradable systems that can develop into new, unique compounds suitable for specific materials.