Sorbitol: An Additive with Different Applications

Universidad Nacional de Colombia, facultad de ciencias agrarias, Programa Ingenieria Agronomica

Author: Germán David González Struberg, gdgonzalezs@unal.edu.co

Context

Sorbitol is a sampleable and chemically non-reactive polyalcohol, which allows it to withstand high temperatures without a change in its properties. It is a refined low-calorie sugar (containing 30% with respect to sucrose) which has a sweetness of 60% with respect to glucose. It is considered a natural sweetener of low power, with low caloric power, belongs to the family of polyols (along with mannitol, xylitol, lactitol, maltitol and isomalt), being the most used.

Sorbitol is used as an additive in the food, cosmetics, pharmaceutical, paper and leather industries. It is also a raw material for various chemicals such as vitamin C, surfactants and resins.

PRODUCTCION

Catalytic hydrogenation of glucose:
Industrially the D-sorbitol is produced by means of the catalytic hydrogenation mainly using two types of catalysts (Ni, Ru). Generally this reaction is carried out under the following conditions with constant stirring.

Table1. Average operating conditions of obtaining sorbitol.

The main raw material is glucose which can be obtained from different crops such as cassava, through an enzymatic hydrolysis process. The enzymatic hydrolysis in the last 30 years has displaced the acid hydrolysis, due to the availability of new enzymes. Nowadays most of the starch hydrolysis is done using enzymes, since this technique has advantages such as: control of the formation of undesirable products and greater flexibility of the product.

Sorbitol: An additive with different applications

Universidad Nacional de Colombia, facultad de ciencias agrarias, Programa Ingenieria Agronomica

Author: Germán David González Struberg, gdgonzalezs@unal.edu.co

Context

Sorbitol is a sampleable and chemically non-reactive polyalcohol, which allows it to withstand high temperatures without a change in its properties. It is a refined low-calorie sugar (containing 30% with respect to sucrose) which has a sweetness of 60% with respect to glucose. It is considered a natural sweetener of low power, with low caloric power, belongs to the family of polyols (along with mannitol, xylitol, lactitol, maltitol and isomalt), being the most used.

Sorbitol is used as an additive in the food, cosmetics, pharmaceutical, paper and leather industries. It is also a raw material for various chemicals such as vitamin C, surfactants and resins.

PRODUCTCION

Catalytic hydrogenation of glucose:
Industrially the D-sorbitol is produced by means of the catalytic hydrogenation mainly using two types of catalysts (Ni, Ru). Generally this reaction is carried out under the following conditions with constant stirring.

Table1. Average operating conditions of obtaining sorbitol.

The main raw material is glucose which can be obtained from different crops such as cassava, through an enzymatic hydrolysis process. The enzymatic hydrolysis in the last 30 years has displaced the acid hydrolysis, due to the availability of new enzymes. Nowadays most of the starch hydrolysis is done using enzymes, since this technique has advantages such as: control of the formation of undesirable products and greater flexibility of the product.

Figura 2. Blocks diagram of sorbitol production.

Figura 2. Blocks diagram of sorbitol production.