Archer-Daniels-Midland Company
CONTINUOUS PROCESS FOR HYDROGENATION OF MALTOSE TO MALTITOL

Abstract:

A process for preparing maltitol is described. The process enables greater control of the reaction to minimized generation of glucose and sorbitol side products that can arise from the over-hydrogenation of maltitol. The process involves reacting a medium containing maltose at a concentration of .ltoreq.30% with hydrogen in a continuous manner using a fixed-bed reactor at a reaction temperature and pressure sufficient to produce a final product containing a yield of maltitol of at least 90 mol. %, at a conversion rate in which no more than about 2 mol. % of said maltose concentration remains, and a sorbitol concentration of less than 1.0 mol. %.