XYLITOL

Chemical Properties

Orthorhombic crystal (stable) or monoclinic (metastable) that resembles white sugar with a slightly sweet taste. Soluble in water, soluble in ethanol and pyridine solvents.

Uses

Xylitol can be used as food sweetener

Definition

ChEBI: Xylitol is a pentitol (five-carbon sugar alcohol) having meso-configuration, being derived from xylose by reduction of the carbonyl group. It has a role as a sweetening agent, an allergen, a hapten, a human metabolite, an algal metabolite, a Saccharomyces cerevisiae metabolite and a mouse metabolite.

Preparation

After the xylitol is prepared, it is decolorized, concentrated, crystallized and recrystallized to obtain a product of higher purity.