Description
Sorbitol is the chemical and commercial name for D-glucitol, a six-carbon sugar alcohol with approximately 60 percent the sweetness of sucrose and a soft, cooling taste. The most widely used polyol globally across food, pharmaceutical, oral-care, and industrial applications.
Available in two principal commercial forms: White crystalline powder (the dry-blend and tableting workhorse) and 70 percent aqueous solution (the toothpaste, syrup, and continuous-process workhorse). Highly hygroscopic in solid form; chemically stable in solution.
We supply food-grade and pharmaceutical-grade Sorbitol from manufacturers in China holding ISO, Halal, Kosher and other certifications relevant to the product and production.
Common market formats include Crystalline Powder (98 percent purity standard), 70 percent Liquid Solution (the dominant industrial format), Non-Crystallizing 70 percent Solution (modified to resist cool-storage crystallization), and USP/EP/JP/BP Pharmaceutical Grade in both powder and solution forms.
Bulk and reduced-MOQ shipments for both formats. Batch-level COA covering Sorbitol content, reducing sugars, total sugars, chloride, sulphated ash, heavy metals, and microbiology.
Introduction
Sorbitol was first isolated from rowan berries by French chemist Jean-Baptiste Boussingault in 1872. It occurs naturally in fruits including apples, pears, peaches, and prunes.
Industrial production is by catalytic hydrogenation of glucose under high-pressure conditions, producing a 70 percent aqueous solution that can either be sold as is, or evaporated and crystallized to yield the powder form.
Regulated as E420 in the EU, classified as Generally Recognized as Safe by the U.S. FDA, listed in USP, EP, JP, and BP pharmacopoeias, and approved by JECFA without a numerical Acceptable Daily Intake limit.
Caloric value is approximately 2.6 kcal per gram on a dry-weight basis. Glycemic index is approximately 9. Sorbitol is metabolized through an insulin-independent pathway and absorbed more slowly than glucose.
The compound's commercial dominance traces to a combination of low cost, broad regulatory acceptance, and a property profile that few competing polyols match in any single application: humectancy for toothpaste, bulk for chewing gum, sweetness for syrups, and chemical reactivity as a feedstock for industrial vitamin C production.
Where it is used
- Toothpaste, mouthwash, and oral hygiene products; the dominant humectant and bulk sweetener in modern toothpaste formulation
- Sugar-free chewing gum and confectionery; provides bulk, sweetness, and shelf-life softness
- Pharmaceutical syrups, oral solutions, and chewable tablets
- Sugar-free baked goods, cookies, and energy bars; humectant prevents drying
- Cosmetics and personal-care products including creams, lotions, and shaving foams
- Sugar-free jams, jellies, and dessert fillings
- Diabetic confectionery and dietary products
- Vitamin C industrial synthesis as a fermentation feedstock
- Surfactant and polyol-ester precursor in chemical manufacturing
- Tobacco humectant in cigarette manufacturing
Technical data
| Item | Specification |
|---|---|
| Appearance | White crystalline powder or clear syrup |
| Assay (dry basis) | ≥ 98.0% (powder) / 70 ± 1% (liquid) |
| Reducing sugars (as glucose) | ≤ 0.3% |
| Total sugars | ≤ 1.0% |
| Loss on drying (powder) | ≤ 1.0% |
| pH (10% solution) | 5.0 to 7.0 |
| Sulphated ash | ≤ 0.1% |
| Chloride | ≤ 50 mg/kg |
| Heavy metals (as Pb) | ≤ 5 mg/kg |
Ready to discuss business?
Send us your spec and requirement. We will respond with availability and pricing within 24 hours.