Sorbitol

Appearance: Transparent Colorless
Chemical Name: D-Glucitol
Chemical Formula: C6H14O6
Packaging Type: 250 Kg. in barrels

Usage areas :

It is a natural carbohydrate alcohol found in many grained and non-grain fruits such as apples, prunes, cherries, and grapes. It is produced commercially from glucose (dextrose). It is a polyol (sugar alcohol) obtained by catalytic hydrogenation of dextrose (glucose).

Production Methods

There are three categories: catalytic hydrogenation, electrocatalytic hydrogenation, and enzymatic. When it comes to economics, Catalytic hydrogenation is currently the most accepted. Sorbitol can be obtained by saturating dextrose with hydrogen in the presence of Raney nickel or ruthenium catalyst at high pressure (40-100 bar) and high temperature (100-170 °C). It has 2.6 kcal/g calories. Use in high doses may have a laxative effect (depending on the user’s age, weight, and metabolism). It can be used as a tooth-friendly product as it does not cause plaque formation on the teeth. Since the dissolution enthalpy is endothermic, it gives a feeling of freshness in the mouth.

Function and Features

It is a stabilizer, low-calorie sweetener, and volume enhancer. It is used in many bakery and confectionery products.

Applications:

It is used as a sweetening agent, and food additive, in toothpaste, tobacco, toiletries, and cosmetics. It is also used for Vitamin C fermentation. It is a product very close to sugar. It has half the sweetness of sugar. When used in chewing gum, it can prevent tooth decay since the bacteria in the mouth cannot metabolize sorbitol. Some diabetics prefer to consume foods sweetened with sorbitol. This is because sorbitol is absorbed slowly into the body and prevents blood sugar from rising rapidly. It is a natural sweetener and thickener used in products such as dietetic drinks and foods, bakery products, confectionery, grated coconut, and chewing gum. The ability to retain moisture in the products is also very important. It is used as a diuretic in the pharmaceutical industry and has various uses. It is used in industry in the production of polyethers and surfactants for polyurethanes.