Kemin Industries, Inc.

Christopher E Nelson

Douglas Howard Catron

Haridasan Chirakkal

Umesh Balakrishnan

Buddhi Sreeramulu Nandhakumar

Kottakulam Mani Murugan

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.

Methods for preparing metal carboxylates in one-pot reaction

A process for producing divalent metal carboxylates having the formula, M(CH.sub.3 (CH.sub.2).sub.x COO.sup.-).sub.2, wherein M is the divalent metal cation, zinc (Zn.sup.+2) or copper (Cu.sup.+2) and x is zero or 1 is disclosed. In this process, an anhydrous C.sub.2 -C.sub.3 carboxylic acid is admixed with a basic divalent metal compound that is an oxide, hydroxide or carbonate of Zn.sup.+2 or Cu.sup.+2 in the absence of added solvent or other diluent. The divalent metal carboxylate so produced is used as a biologically available and economical source of trace metals for supplementation in animal diets.

Process for producing metal carboxylates for use as animal feed

A supplemented animal feed composition comprising (a) an animal feed that is deficient in a trace metal admixed with (b) a diet-supplementing effective amount of a polyvalent metal cation propionate having the formula M(CH.sub.3 CH.sub.2 COO.sup.-).sub.x, wherein M is a polyvalent metal cation form of said deficient metal that is selected from the group consisting of Zn.sup.+2, Cu.sup.+2, Fe.sup.+3, Fe.sup.+2, Mn.sup.+2, Co.sup.+2 and Cr.sup.+3, and x is an integer equal to the cationic charge of M. The metal propionates are used as biologically available and economical sources of trace metal for supplementation in animal diets.

Metal propionates for use as animal feed supplements

A catalyzed process is disclosed for producing a polyvalent metal C.sub.2 -C.sub.3 carboxylate having the formula M(CH.sub.3 (CH.sub.2).sub.x COO.sup.--).sub.y, wherein M is the polyvalent metal cation that is manganese (Mn.sup.+2), cobalt (Co.sup.+2), or chromium (Cr.sup.+3), x is zero or 1 and y is an integer equal to the cationic charge of M. The polyvalent metal C.sub.2 -C.sub.3 carboxylate is prepared by admixing (i) a dry polyvalent metal compound that is an oxide, hydroxide or carbonate of Mn.sup.+2, Co.sup.+3 or Cr.sup.+3, (ii) an anhydrous C.sub.2 -C.sub.3 carboxylic acid, and (iii) a catalytic agent at a relative molar ratio of about 1:2-10:0.01-3 in the absence of an added solvent or other diluent to form a reaction mixture. The reaction mixture is heated to complete the reaction, remove the produced water and about 80 percent of the unreacted carboxylic acid. The product in residual carboxylic acid is solidified, ground and the product is recovered. The metal carboxylates can be used as biologically available and economical sources of trace metal ions for supplementation in animal diets.

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Des Moines, IA, United States of America

Christopher E Nelson