Pharmaceutical applications, sorbitol

In pharmaceutical applications, sorbitol is used as a tablet diluent in wet granulation or dry compression formulations. It is commonly used in chewable tablets because of its sweet taste, and it is also used as a plasticizer for gelatin in capsule formulations. Sorbitol is utilized in sugar-free liquid preparations and as a stabilizer for drug, vitamin, and antacid suspensions. When it is used in syrups, crystallization around bottle caps is prevented. 

Sweetness is often an important characteristic of sugar alcohols in food and pharmaceutical applications. The property of sweetness is measured in a variety of ways and has a corresponding variability in ratings (218). Based on one or more test methods, erythritol and xyfitol are similar to or sweeter than sucrose (218,219). Sorbitol is about 60% as sweet as sucrose, and mannitol, D-arabinitol, ribitol, maltitol, isomalt, and lactitol are generally comparable to sorbitol (see Sweeteners). 

Correia NT, Alvarez C et al (2001) The beta-alpha branching in D-sorbitol as studied by thermedly stimulated depolarization currents (TSDC). J Phys Chem B 105(24) 5663—5669 Crowley MM, Zhang F et al (2007) Pharmaceutical applications of hot-melt extrusion part I. Drug Dev Ind Pharm 33(9) 909-926... 

Surface-Active Agents. Polyol (eg, glycerol, sorbitol, sucrose, and propylene glycol) or poly (ethylene oxide) esters of long-chain fatty acids are nonionic surfactants (qv) used in foods, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, textiles, cleaning compounds, and many other applications (103,104). Those that are most widely used are included in Table 3. 

Polyols occur in many plant products. Sorbitol was first isolated from the berries of mountain ash (Sorbiis aucuparia). Commercially sorbitol is manufactured by the hydrogenation of glucose. Marmitol occurs in many terrestrial and marine plants. Potential food applications of polyols include confectionery products, bakery products, deserts, jams and marmalade. Sorbitol is an excellent moisture conditioner and is used in pharmaceutical preparations such as elixirs and syrups. Sorbitol, as a humectant in creams and lotions helps to stabilize the water content, providing better moisture control. The use of sorbitol or xylitol in toothpaste and mouthwashes is highly desirable. 

Polysorbates are also commonly used as (O/W) emulsifiers in the food industry (salad dressing, ice cream), and in cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, detergents, and in a myriad of other industrial applications. Current Western Europe consumption of sorbitol for surfactants manufacture can be estimated at around 15,000 tons per year. 

Depending on properties of the manufactured products, plasticizers must fiilfil a number of secondary functions. Gloves shown in Figures 14.6 and 14.7 are manufactured for medical applications thus they require q suitable plasticizer. Glycerin is used as q plasticizer similar to pharmaceutical caplets, which make use of either glycerin or sorbitol. In the case of caplets drag release properties are important. " In food contact apphca-tion of gloves diisononyl phthalate is rrsed as a plasticizer approved for food contact... 

Besides the separation of pharmaceuticals, CD-containing stationary phases have found application in the analysis of foods and food products, environmental pollutants, and other organic compounds. The baseline separation of lacto-bionic acid, sorbitoL lactose, and fmctose on a P-CD phase was achieved using MeCN-sodium dihydrogen phosphate 10 mM (70/30, v/v) as isocratic mobile phase. Racemic 2,4-... 

Sodium benzoate. Sodium benzoate is an inexpensive traditional nucleating agent used predominantly in nylon and PP homopolymer. Sodium benzoate has full FDA approval in PP and is used in food applications and pharmaceutical synthesis. Typical use levels of sodium benzoate as a nucleating agent in PP are lower than the sorbitols. The major application is in injection-molded packaging closures. 

Alditols, particularly glycerol (I), ethylene glycol, sorbitol, and D-manni-tol, have widespread commercial applications, frequently as a result of their hygroscopic properties. The organic monoesters, particularly of long-chain fatty acids, may have surface-active properties which make them of interest as emulsifiers, but the usual conditions of commercial esterification produce anhydro derivatives simultaneously (Chapter VII). Nitrate esters are important as explosives and as pharmaceuticals. The acetal derivatives (Chapter IV) have been extensively prepared and studied, but as yet have found no practical application. 

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