Production of malic acid using tubular and stirred tank reactors

A process for production of malic acid, the process comprising:

• (a) obtaining a feed comprising one or more of crude maleic anhydride, pure maleic anhydride, crude maleic acid, crude fumaric acid, pure maleic acid, pure fumaric acid, vent gas scrubber solutions from production of maleic anhydride, and vent gas scrubber solutions from production of phthalic anhydride;
• (b) passing the feed in a tubular reactor assembly to obtain a first product stream comprising unreacted feed and malic acid, wherein the feed is made to undergo hydration reaction in the tubular reactor assembly for a first predetermined time period;
• and
• (c) causing further hydration of the first product stream in a stirred tank reactor assembly for a second predetermined time period to obtain a final product stream comprising malic acid,
• wherein passing the feed through the tubular reactor assembly comprises passing the feed in a tubular reactor at a Reynolds number from about 2900 to about 10000.