Danisco US Inc.

Danisco Cultor America, Inc.

Dupont Nutrition Biosciences Aps

Danisco A/s

Pankaj Shah

Paul Leo McGrane

Michael Torrey Wuesthoff

H&aring;kan Gros

Gary J Flynn

Bengt Lindholm

John Teixeira

George W Borden

James M Anderson

Bruce Milner

Mixtures of sorbitol fatty acid esters useful as low calorie fat substitutes are prepared through a direct esterification process. The process entails the direct esterification of sorbitol with free fatty acids, optionally in the presence of an esterification catalyst. The resulting sorbitol esters have an average degree of hydroxyl substitution ranging from about 3 to about 5.5. This partial esterification leads to a mixture of esters capable of serving as low calorie fat substitutes without undesirable physiological side effects or the need for additives. Furthermore, the direct esterification process proceeds without the need for large amounts of organic solvents or bleaching agents.

Method for the direct esterification of sorbitol with fatty acids

The present invention is directed to a process and product by process for preparing a carbohydrate polymer which comprises polymerizing a sugar at a temperature below the point of substantial decomposition thereof and under reduced pressure in the presence of a catalytic effective amount of an organic acid selected from the group consisting of a monocarboxylic acid, a lactone of a monocarboxylic acid and arylol, while removing water formed during said polymerization, said organic acid being non-volatile and having only one acidic functionality and having no amino groups thereon.

Polymerization of mono and disaccharides with monocarboxylic acids and lactones

Growing community of inventors

Lake Bluff, IL, United States of America

Pankaj Shah