A calcium carboxylate is prepared by reacting water, calcium oxide, and a compound of formula (I):

##STR00001##

wherein R is a C.sub.1-C.sub.3 alkyl and R.sub.1 is a C.sub.1 or C.sub.2 alkyl. The reaction solution is heated to remove an amount of a co-product from the reaction solution. The calcium carboxylate may be recovered in a solid form from the reaction solution.

A process for manufacturing propionate products through fermentation, including the steps of fermenting a carbon source selected from sugars and lactate in a fermentation medium by means of a propionic acid producing microorganism to provide a first fermentation broth comprising a propionate salt, recovering propionic acid producing microorganism from the first fermentation broth, subjecting the first fermentation broth from which propionic acid producing microorganism have been recovered to a water removal step to form a first propionate salt product, fermenting a carbon source comprising glycerol with the propionic acid producing microorganism recovered from the first fermentation broth in the presence of an inorganic alkaline salt to provide a second fermentation broth comprising a propionate salt, subjecting the second fermentation broth to a purification step comprising at least one precipitation step, to form a second propionate salt product. The process allows efficient manufacture of propionate salts products.

The invention relates to a process for preparing carboxylic acids or salts thereof by hydrolysis or saponification of an ester, which is obtained by alkoxycarbonylation of a C2 to C20 hydrocarbon having at least one multiple bond, preferably having at least one olefinic double bond, in which the homogeneous catalyst system used is separated from the product mixture by means of membrane separation. In a development of the present invention, the ester thus formed is converted into another ester by transesterification and then hydrolyzed or saponified.

The invention relates to a process for preparing carboxylic acids or salts thereof by hydrolysis or saponification of an ester, which is obtained by alkoxycarbonylation of a C2 to C20 hydrocarbon having at least one multiple bond, preferably having at least one olefinic double bond, in which the homogeneous catalyst system used is separated from the product mixture by means of membrane separation. In a development of the present invention, the ester thus formed is converted into another ester by transesterification and then hydrolyzed or saponified.

A process for manufacturing propionate products through fermentation, including the steps of fermenting a carbon source selected from sugars and lactate in a fermentation medium by means of a propionic acid producing microorganism to provide a first fermentation broth comprising a propionate salt, recovering propionic acid producing microorganism from the first fermentation broth, subjecting the first fermentation broth from which propionic acid producing microorganism have been recovered to a water removal step to form a first propionate salt product, fermenting a carbon source comprising glycerol with the propionic acid producing microorganism recovered from the first fermentation broth in the presence of an inorganic alkaline salt to provide a second fermentation broth comprising a propionate salt, subjecting the second fermentation broth to a purification step comprising at least one precipitation step, to form a second propionate salt product. The process allows efficient manufacture of propionate salts products.

A quaternary ammonium compound represented by the following formula (1):
[(R1).sub.m(R2).sub.4-mN.sup.+].sub.nX.sup.n(1) wherein each R1 independently represents an unsubstituted alkyl group or substituted alkyl group having 1 to 30 carbon atoms; an aryl group having 6 to 20 carbon atoms; an aralkyl group where an unsubstituted alkyl group or substituted alkyl group having 1 to 30 carbon atoms is substituted with at least one aryl group having 6 to 20 carbon atoms; or an alkylaryl group where an aryl group having 6 to 20 carbon atoms is substituted with at least one unsubstituted alkyl group or substituted alkyl group having 1 to 30 carbon atoms; each R2 independently represents a group having 2 to 60 carbon atoms and 2 to 30 oxygen atoms, the group represented by the following formula: (RO)k-H, wherein R represents a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group and k represents a natural number of 2 or more.

A quaternary ammonium compound represented by the following formula (1):
[(R1).sub.m(R2).sub.4-mN.sup.+].sub.nX.sup.n(1) wherein each R1 independently represents an unsubstituted alkyl group or substituted alkyl group having 1 to 30 carbon atoms; an aryl group having 6 to 20 carbon atoms; an aralkyl group where an unsubstituted alkyl group or substituted alkyl group having 1 to 30 carbon atoms is substituted with at least one aryl group having 6 to 20 carbon atoms; or an alkylaryl group where an aryl group having 6 to 20 carbon atoms is substituted with at least one unsubstituted alkyl group or substituted alkyl group having 1 to 30 carbon atoms; each R2 independently represents a group having 2 to 60 carbon atoms and 2 to 30 oxygen atoms, the group represented by the following formula: (RO)k-H, wherein R represents a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group and k represents a natural number of 2 or more.

The present invention relates to methods of manufacturing multiple metal propionates in a single reaction using sodium hydroxide as initiator and propionic acid as solvent. The method provides up to 95% conversion with greater than 60% yield. In addition, the method significantly reduces the cost or production by shortening reaction time, eliminating secondary mixing process, and providing simultaneous drying and micronization steps.

An integrated process for the preparation of carboxylic acids using iso-paraffins is provided. The process includes oxidatively carbonylating a compound having a carbon-hydrogen bond with dialkyl peroxide, carbon monoxide and water. Concurrently, the iso-paraffin is converted to iso-alcohol. The process provides access to a wide range of useful carboxylic acids and operates under relatively mild conditions.

The disclosure provides methods for the production of liquefied petroleum gas from sustainable feedstocks, including methods comprising conversion of alcohols produced by gas fermentation for the production of propane and/or butane.