	US 12,071,401 B2
	Direct conversion of esters to carboxylates
Kelly Brannen, North Palm Beach, FL (US); David J. Harrigan, Lewiston, NY (US); Donal S. Tunks, Grand Island, NY (US); and Stanley A. Sojka, Grand Island, NY (US)
Assigned to NIACET CORPORATION, Niagara Falls, NY (US)
Filed by NIACET CORPORATION, Niagara Falls, NY (US)
Filed on Sep. 1, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/460,239.
Application 18/460,239 is a continuation of application No. 17/476,752, filed on Sep. 16, 2021, abandoned.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/079,683, filed on Sep. 17, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2023/0406806 A1, Dec. 21, 2023
Int. Cl. C07C 51/41 (2006.01); C07C 51/47 (2006.01)

CPC C07C 51/412 (2013.01) [C07C 51/47 (2013.01)]

18 Claims

1. A process for producing calcium propionate, the process comprising:

a. reacting water and calcium oxide to obtain a slurry;

b. reacting the slurry with methyl propionate, wherein the calcium oxide is reacted in a molar excess compared to the methyl propionate, to obtain a reaction solution;

c. heating the reaction solution to remove an amount of methanol from the reaction solution;

d. neutralizing the reaction solution to a pH of from 7.0 to 9.5 by adding propionic acid;

e. filtering the reaction solution; and

f. recovering the calcium propionate in a solid form from the filtered reaction solution,

wherein the solid calcium propionate has a level of purity of 95.0% or greater.