Process for manufacturing propionate products

Abstract

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.

1 . A propionate salt product comprising at least 85 wt. % of calcium salts of carboxylic acids, wherein the calcium salts comprise calcium propionate, calcium acetate and calcium succinate. 
     
     
         2 . The propionate salt product according to  claim 1  wherein the propionate salt product comprises at least 90 wt. %, preferably at least 95 wt. % of calcium salts of carboxylic acids. 
     
     
         3 . The propionate salt product according to  claim 1 , wherein the propionate salt product has a propionate salt content in the range of 40-70 wt. %, an acetate salt content in the range of 3-20 wt. %, and a succinate salt content in the range of 0-10 wt. %. 
     
     
         4 . The propionate salt product according to  claim 1 , wherein the acetate salt content is in the range of 8-15 wt. %, preferably 10-13 wt. %. 
     
     
         5 . The propionate salt product according to  claim 1 , wherein the succinate salt content is in the range of 3-6 wt. %. 
     
     
         6 . The propionate salt product according to  claim 1 , wherein the propionate salt product has a propionate salt content in the range of 50-90 wt. %, an acetate salt content in the range of 0-5 wt. %, and a succinate salt content in the range of 0-20 wt. %. 
     
     
         7 . The propionate salt product according to  claim 6 , wherein the propionate salt content is in the range of 60-80 wt. %, more particular 70-80 wt. %. 
     
     
         8 . The propionate salt product according to  claim 6 , wherein the acetate salt content is in the range of 0-2 wt. %. 
     
     
         9 . The propionate salt product according to  claim 6 , wherein the succinate salt content is in the range of 0-10 wt. %, more particular 0-5 wt. %. 
     
     
         10 . Use of the propionate salt product according to  claim 1 , for the preservation of feed and food.