Patent ID: 8703451

Claim:
A process for producing a free carboxylic acid, the process comprising: A) synthesizing a carboxylic acid in an aqueous culture of cells, wherein the cells are cultured in the presence of a water-insoluble amine of formula (I) wherein R 1 , R 2 and R 3 , independently of one another, are identical or different, branched or unbranched, optionally substituted hydrocarbon radicals or H, to form a corresponding ammonium carboxylate from the water-insoluble amine and the synthesized carboxylic acid, wherein the ammonium carboxylate is present in a water-insoluble phase within the aqueous culture of cells; B) removing the water-insoluble phase from the aqueous culture of cells; and C) heating the removed water-insoluble phase, and thereby releasing the free carboxylic acid.