Process for the preparation of a mixture of alpha -D-glucopyranosido-1,6-mannitol and alpha -D-glucopyranosido-1,6-sorbitol from alpha -D-glucopyranosido-1,6-fructose

摘要

In the preparation of a mixture of alpha -D-glucopyranosido-1,6-mannitol and alpha -D-glucopyranoside-1,6-sorbitol by catalytically hydrogenating alpha -D-glucopyranosido-1,6-fructose in aqueous solution with hydrogen under increased pressure and at elevated temperature, the improvement which comprises effecting the hydrogenation continuously over a fixed bed of support-free shaped pieces of elements of sub-group 8 of the periodic table, which serve as the hydrogenation catalyst. The product can be directly used as a sweetener, without purification. The catalyst life is extremely long.