To produce arabinitol from easily available raw materials under a low pressure, in the absence of hardly removable substances, with a high yield and economically advantageously, by subjecting a hexose used as a starting material to oxidative decarboxylation and subsequently to catalytic hydrogenation.
A hexose [e.g. glucose (anhydride, hydrate or high dextrose syrup), fructose, galactose, invert sugar or lactose hydrolyzate is treated for oxidative decarboxylation e.g. with hydrogen peroxide in the absence of an anthraquinone derivative and an organic solvent under oxygen pressure of 0.5-10 bar to obtain a C5-intermediate mainly consisting of an alkali metal salt of aldonic acid. The obtained intermediate is crystallized from water, etc., and the salt is converted to the corresponding free acid with a strong-ion exchanging resin, etc. The C5-aldonolactone is crystallized according to the circumstances. Further, the aldonic acid (lactone) is hydrogenated e.g. in the presence of a ruthenium-supporting catalyst at a temperature of 100-170°C under the addition of phosphoric acid or boric acid.
LEMMENS HILDE ODILE JOZEFINE
SONIA MARIANNE JEANNIN COOMANS
HARALD WILHELM WALTER ROEPER
