Synonyms

Hydrogenated starch hydrolysate, hydrogenated glucose syrup and polyglucitol

Definition

A mixture consisting mainly of maltitol and sorbitol and lesser amounts of hydrogenated oligo- and polysaccharides and maltrotriitol. It is manufactured by the catalytic hydrogenation of a mixture of starch hydrolysates consisting of glucose, maltose and higher glucose polymers, similar to the catalytic hydrogenation process used for the manufacture of maltitol syrup. The resulting syrup is desalted by ion exchange and concentrated to the desired level.

Einecs

Chemical name

Sorbitol: D-glucitol

Maltitol: (α)-D-Glucopyranosyl-1,4-D-glucitol

Chemical formula

Sorbitol: C6H14O6

Maltitol: C12H24O11

Molecular weight

Sorbitol: 182,2

Maltitol: 344,3

Assay

Content not less than 99 % of total hydrogenated saccharides on the anhydrous basis, not less than 50 % higher molecular weight polyols, not more than 50 % of maltitol and not more than 20 % of sorbitol on the anhydrous basis.

Description

Colourless and odourless clear viscous liquid

Identification

Solubility

Very soluble in water and slightly soluble in ethanol

Test for maltitol

Passes test

Test for sorbitol

To 5 g of the sample add 7 ml of methanol, 1 ml of benzaldehyde and 1 ml of hydrochloric acid. Mix and shake in a mechanical shaker until crystals appear. Filter the crystals and dissolve in 20 ml of boiling water containing 1 g of sodium bicarbonate. Filter the crystals, wash with 5 ml of a water-methanol mixture (1 in 2) and dry in the air. The crystals of the monobenzylidine derivative of sorbitol so obtained melt between 173 and 179 °C.

Purity

Water content

Not more than 31 % (Karl Fischer method)

Chlorides

Not more than 50 mg/kg

Sulphates

Not more than 100 mg/kg

Reducing sugars

Not more than 0,3 %

Nickel

Not more than 2 mg/kg

Lead

Not more than 1 mg/kg’