Production Methods of D‐Mannitol

Abstract
The present commercial production of D‐mannitol, a valuable nutritive sweetener, takes place by hydrogenation of 1:1 D‐glucose/D‐fructose mixtures over nickel. The low D‐mannitol yield (25 — 30%), however, asks for the development of alternative procedures. A literature survey of the various production methods is given, including some other possible combinations of known procedures. It is concluded that the simultaneous use of glucose isomerase and copper‐on‐silica (combi‐process) is a promising procedure for the preparation of D‐mannitol from D‐glucose or D‐glucose/D‐fructose syrups.