Process for the preparation of D-arabitol

摘要

New method (I) of preparing D-arabitol (II) comprises the following steps: hydrolysis (III) of a lactose solution; oxidation (IV) of a mixture of gluconic and galactonic acids (V); decarboxylation (VI) of (V) to produce a mixture of D-arabinose and D-lyxose; and catalytic hydrogenation (VII) of this mixture to give (II). (III) is a chemical or enzymatic process. (IV) is carried out using air or oxygen in an alkali medium and a palladium catalyst; or using micro-organisms such as Glucobacter oxydans. (V) is neutralised to form Ca salts. (VI) is carried out using H2O2. (VII) uses a Raney Nickel type catalyst.