| abstract |
A catalyzed process is disclosed for producing a polyvalent metal C 2 -C 3 carboxylate having the formula M(CH 3 (CH 2 ) x COO -- ) y , wherein M is the polyvalent metal cation that is manganese (Mn +2 ), cobalt (Co +2 ), or chromium (Cr +3 ), x is zero or 1 and y is an integer equal to the cationic charge of M. The polyvalent metal C 2 -C 3 carboxylate is prepared by admixing (i) a dry polyvalent metal compound that is an oxide, hydroxide or carbonate of Mn +2 , Co +3 or Cr +3 , (ii) an anhydrous C 2 -C 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. |