Propanoic Acid - Production

Production

In industry, propanoic acid is mainly produced by the hydrocarboxylation of ethylene using nickel carbonyl as the catalyst:

H2C=CH2 + H2O + CO → CH3CH2CO2H

It is also produced by the aerobic oxidation of propionaldehyde. In the presence of cobalt or manganese ions, this reaction proceeds rapidly at temperatures as mild as 40–50 °C:

CH3CH2CHO + ½ O2 → CH3CH2COOH.

Large amounts of propanoic acid were once produced as a byproduct of acetic acid manufacture. Currently the world's largest producer of propanoic acid is BASF, with approximately 80 kt/a production capacity.

Propanoic acid is produced biologically as its coenzyme A ester, propionyl-CoA, from the metabolic breakdown of fatty acids containing odd numbers of carbon atoms, and also from the breakdown of some amino acids. Bacteria of the genus Propionibacterium produce propanoic acid as the end product of their anaerobic metabolism. This class of bacteria is commonly found in the stomachs of ruminants and the sweat glands of humans, and their activity is partially responsible for the odor of both Swiss cheese and sweat.

Read more about this topic:  Propanoic Acid

Famous quotes containing the word production:

    “To expect to increase prices and then to maintain them at a higher level by means of a plan which must of necessity increase production while decreasing consumption is to fly in the face of an economic law as well established as any law of nature.”
    —Calvin Coolidge (1872–1933)

    “Perestroika basically is creating material incentives for the individual. Some of the comrades deny that, but I can’t see it any other way. In that sense human nature kinda goes backwards. It’s a step backwards. You have to realize the people weren’t quite ready for a socialist production system.”
    —Gus Hall (b. 1910)

    “The development of civilization and industry in general has always shown itself so active in the destruction of forests that everything that has been done for their conservation and production is completely insignificant in comparison.”
    —Karl Marx (1818–1883)