Sorbitol Acid SBA

Sorbitol acid can be produced in yields close to 100% from glucose via hydrogenation. This makes it very interesting as a chemical for industrial use in the food and nonfood sectors. Every year 350000 tonnes of SBA is manufactured by companies such as Cerestar-Cargill, Roquette, and Tate Lyle. For example, isosorb-ides can be synthesized from SBA via dehydration and can form polymers, which 

International Polyol Chemical Inc. (ICPl) has invested in a 200000 tonne plant which was originally planned to start in 2007 but has been delayed. The plant win produce glycols such as propylene glycol, ethylene glycol, glycerin, and butane-diol, starting from sorbitol/glucose. It also aims to use molasses or waste streams such as various pentoses (xylose/arabinose) and lactose derived from whey as feedstocks. 

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