Process for the production of mannitol and sorbitol

• US 3,864,406 A
• Filed: 04/25/1973
• Issued: 02/04/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 04/25/1973
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Asko J. Melaja, Lauri Hamalainen
• Original Assignee: Asko J. Melaja, Lauri Hamalainen
• Inventors: Melaja, Asko J., Hamalainen, Lauri
• Primary Examiner(s): Evans, Joseph E.
• Application Number:
  US05/354,392
• Time in Patent Office: 650 Days
• Field of Search: 260/637R,643G,635C
• US Class Current: 568/872
• CPC Class Codes: C07C 29/76 by physical treatment
• CPC Class Codes: C07C 31/26 Hexahydroxylic alcohols

Abstract

A method for separating mannitol and sorbitol from a solution containing mannitol and sorbitol, including the step of chromatographic fractionation to provide an aqueous solution containing a high level mannitol and an aqueous solution containing a high level of sorbitol. When desired, aqueous solutions of pure mannitol (free from sorbitol and unhydrogenated sugar) and pure sorbitol (free from mannitol and unhydrogenated sugar) may be obtained.

Claims

1. THE METHOD OF SEPARATING MANNITOL AND SORBITOL FROM SOLUTIONS CONSISTING ESSENTIALLY OF BOTH POLYOLS AND WATER WHICH COMPRISES A. PROVIDING A COLUMN OF ALKALINE EARTH METAL SALT OF A POLYSTYRENE SULFONATE CATION EXCHANGER, CROSS COUPLED WITH DI-VINYL BENZENE;

B. SUBMERGING THE COLUMN OF RESIN IN WATER;

C. FEEDING A SOLUTION CONSISTING ESSENTIALLY OF WATER, MANNITOL AND SORBITOL, IN UNIFORM SUPPLY TO THE RESIN SURFACE IN THE COLUMN AT A FLOW RATE OF 0.2 TO 1.5 CUBIC METERS PER HOUR PER SQUARE METER OF THE CROSS-SECTION OF THE RESIN COLUMN FOLLWED BY ELUTION OF THE COLUMN WITH WATER;

AND D. RECOVERING SUCCESSIVELY FROM THE DOWNSTREAM SIDE OF THE RESIN BED

2. A SECOND FRACTION RICH IN SORBITOL.

3. a third fraction rich in sorbitol.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the solution consisting essentially of water, mannitol and sorbitol is obtained by hydrogenation of invert sugar.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the solution consisting essentially of water, mannitol and sorbitol has a dry material content of 25 to 55% by weight.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the fraction rich in mannitol is crystallized and the crystals separated from the balance of the solution to provide crystals of substantially pure mannitol.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein the fractions recovered successively from the downstream side of the resin bed include