About what is castor sugar?

What is castor sugar?

Castor (Sorbitol), also known as sorbitol, is a six-carbon sugar alcohol made from the fermentation of sorbose (Ricinose). It is a colorless, tasteless, odorless crystal or white powder substance with good water solubility and stability. Castor is not only widely used in food industry, but also plays an important role in chemical industry, medicine and cosmetics. In this paper, the definition, properties, preparation methods and applications of castor sugar will be analyzed in detail.

1. castor sugar basic properties

Ricinose is a polyhydric alcohol with the chemical formula CFH, and its structure consists of six carbon atoms, five of which are linked by glycosidic bonds to form a ring structure, and the sixth carbon atom is in the form of a hydroxyl group. This structure imparts many unique physical and chemical properties to castor.

The sweetness of castor is low, about 2/3 that of sucrose, so it is often used as a low-calorie sweetener in the food industry. Castor has good moisture retention and moisture absorption, which can help keep food moist and extend shelf life. Castor sugar also has a certain degree of antioxidant, to a certain extent, to prevent the oxidation of food deterioration.

2. castor sugar preparation method

The production of castor sugar is mainly achieved by fermentation or chemical reduction of sorbose. Sorbose is a by-product of the castor oil refining process, and its structure is a hexatose. Ricinose can be obtained by fermentation or chemical reduction of sorbose.

In the fermentation process, sorbose is reduced by a specific microorganism to produce castor sugar. This method has the advantages of simple process and low cost, but it requires higher culture conditions for microorganisms. Chemical reduction law through the use of hydrogenation agents (such as hydrogen and catalyst) to reduce sorbose to castor sugar, this method has high production efficiency, but the equipment investment is large.

3. of castor sugar in chemical industry

Castor has a wide range of applications in the chemical industry, especially in plastics, coatings and textiles. Its main uses include:

1. plastics industry Castor sugar can be added to plastics as a plasticizer to improve the flexibility and processability of the plastic. Because castor sugar has good moisture retention and stability, it can help plastics maintain stable performance under different environmental conditions.

2. coating industry Ricinose can be used as a dispersant or thickener in paint production, which can help the pigment and solvent mix better and improve the coating performance of the paint. Castor sugar also has a certain degree of corrosion resistance, which can extend the service life of the coating to a certain extent.

3. Textile Industry Castor can be used as a softener or antistatic agent for post-treatment of textiles, which can make textiles softer and more comfortable, and reduce the generation of static electricity. Castor also has a certain degree of wrinkle resistance and tear resistance, which can improve the durability of textiles.

4. castor sugar in other applications

In addition to its chemical applications, castor sugar plays an important role in the pharmaceutical, cosmetic and food industries.

1. medical field Castor has certain antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, and can be used in the preparation of oral care products (such as toothpaste) and topical drugs. Ricinose is also used as a laxative to help relieve symptoms of constipation.

2. Cosmetics field Castor can be used as a moisturizer and thickener in the production of skin care products and hair care products, which can help keep the skin and hair moist and improve dryness. Castor sugar also has a certain antioxidant properties, can delay skin aging.

3. food industry Castor is a commonly used food sweetener, widely used in candy, beverages, ice cream and baked goods and other foods. Because of its low sweetness and no fructose, it is suitable for low-calorie foods and foods for diabetics.

5. summary

Castor is a kind of six-carbon sugar alcohol with many excellent properties, which is widely used in chemical industry, medicine, cosmetics and food industry. Its unique chemical structure gives it good moisture retention, stability and biocompatibility, making it an important position in modern industry. With the progress of science and technology, the application fields and technical means of castor sugar will be further expanded and improved, and make greater contributions to the development of human society.