Crystals of maltitol of a particular form, crystalline compositions containing them and processes for their preparation

摘要

New crystalline maltitol forms containing: (a) bipyramidal; (b )prismatic; or (c) a mixture of bipyramidal and prismatic crystals. The bipyramidal-form crystals comprise regular octahedra of square base 50-500 mu m and the prismatic form, of length greater than width (l = 100 - 400 mu m and w = 20 - 100 mu m), comprising tetrahedra. Independent claims are also included for the preparation of: a) compositions containing bipyramidal crystals by the crystallisation of a maltitol syrup with a maltitol content greater than 87 (preferably greater than 96) %, and a maltotriitol content less than 1%; b) compositions containing prismatic crystals by crystallisation of a maltitol syrup with a maltitol content greater than 87 (preferably greater than 96)%, and a maltotriitol content greater or equal to 4%; c) compositions containing bipyramidal and prismatic crystals by crystallisation of a maltitol syrup with a maltitol content greater than 87 (preferably greater than 96)% and a maltotriitol content between 1 - 4%.