A process for producing 3-hydroxypropionic acid

Alkaline salts of 3-hydroxypropionic acid are produced by reacting 1,3-propandiol with oxygen or an oxygen-containing gas in an aqueous alkaline solution in the presence of a palladium-containing catalyst substrate. In order to improve the yield of this process, the amount of catalyst added is from 0.1 to 3.0 wt % palladium, in relation to 1,3-propandiol.