RELEASABLY BOUND HYDROXYCARBOXYLIC ACIDS.

摘要

This invention relates to a composition which has an alkali(ne earth) metal hydroxycarboxylate and an aliphatic carboxylic acid which has a lower pKa than that of the hydroxycarboxylic acid. The hydroxycarboxylate salt, when used eg in an aqueous medium which allows dissociation of the salt and the aliphatic carboxylic acid into anions and cations, dissociates into the metal ions and hydroxycarboxylate ions, and the acid into the corresponding carboxylate ions and hydrogen ions. The relative pKa values of the two acids ensure that the aliphatic acid forms the alkali(ne earth) metal salt thereby liberating the free hydroxycarboxylic acid in situ. This method masks the unpleasant odours of acids for ensiling etc without causing distress to operatives during storage and use.