Sorbitol

About This Product

Sorbitol, a six-carbon sugar alcohol with formula C6H14O6 and CAS number 50-70-4, is supplied in liquid form as a clear, colourless, odourless 70 percent aqueous solution, produced by catalytic hydrogenation of glucose. Its industrial significance goes well beyond humectancy. It is the starting material of the Reichstein process and its modern fermentation variants, which convert sorbitol to L-sorbose and thence to ascorbic acid, and essentially all the world's vitamin C begins as sorbitol. In polymer chemistry its six hydroxyl groups make it a highly functional polyol, used as a starter for rigid polyurethane foam polyols where high functionality gives a dense crosslink network and therefore rigidity, and as a component in alkyd resins. Its hydroxyls also chelate metal ions in strongly alkaline solution, which is exploited in metal cleaning and in textile bleaching to keep iron and copper from catalysing peroxide decomposition. As a humectant it holds water in adhesives, toothpaste and paper coatings, keeping them from drying out and cracking. It is used in vitamin C manufacture, polyurethane polyols, alkyd resins, metal sequestration, adhesives, paper coating and toothpaste. Bio Green Chem supplies sorbitol liquid to specification on sorbitol content, dry solids, reducing sugars, pH, colour, sulphated ash and heavy metals.