Sorbitol Powder

Brief Overview
Sorbitol powder is a sugar alcohol that is derived from glucose and has several unique properties. It is a white, crystalline powder with a sweet taste and a melting point of 94-96°C. It has a low glycemic index and reduced calorie content, making it a popular sugar substitute in food products. Sorbitol powder is soluble in water, alcohol, and methanol but insoluble in ether and chloroform. It is stable under normal conditions but can be decomposed by strong acids and bases.
Manufacturing Process
A catalyst, usually a nickel catalyst, is added, and the mixture is heated under pressure to initiate the hydrogenation reaction. Hydrogen gas is then added to the reaction vessel, and the glucose molecules are converted into sorbitol molecules by the addition of hydrogen atoms. The resulting mixture is cooled, filtered to remove any catalyst residue, and evaporated to remove the water content. The remaining mixture is then crystallized and dried to obtain the final product of sorbitol powder.