Carboxylic acids can be regenerated from the carboxylate salts using a process known as "acid springing". This process makes use of a high-molecular-weight tertiary amine (e.g., trioctylamine), which is switched with the cation (e.g., ammonium or calcium).
Carboxylic acids can be re-established from their salt forms through a chemical reaction that utilizes a high-molecular-weight tertiary amine to replace the cation.