Methods and Systems for Processing Sugar Mixtures and Resultant Compositions

Abstract

A method including: (a) selectively reacting a first sugar in a mixture which includes at least one second sugar to form a product mixture comprising a product of said first sugar; (b) separating said product of said first sugar from said product mixture; and (c) separating at least one of said at least one second sugar from said product mixture.

1 . A method comprising:
 (a) selectively reacting a first sugar in a mixture which includes at least one second sugar to form a product mixture comprising a product of said first sugar;   (b) separating said product of said first sugar from said product mixture; and   (c) separating at least one of said at least one second sugar from said product mixture.   
     
     
         2 . A method comprising:
 (a) selectively reacting a first sugar in a mixture which includes at least one second sugar, to form a product mixture comprising a product of said first sugar;   (b) separating said product of said first sugar from said product mixture; and   (c) reacting at least one of said at least one second sugar to form at least one second sugar product.   
     
     
         3 . A method comprising:
 (a) selectively reacting a first sugar in a mixture which includes at least one second sugar precursor, to form a product mixture comprising a product of said first sugar;   (b) separating said product of said first sugar from said product mixture; and   (c) reacting at least one of said at least one second sugar precursor to form at least one second sugar product.   
     
     
         4 . A method according to  claim 2 , comprising separating at least one of said at least one second sugar from said product mixture. 
     
     
         5 . A method according to  claim 2 , comprising separating at least one of said at least one second sugar product from said product mixture. 
     
     
         6 . A method according to  claim 2 , wherein said first sugar comprises glucose and wherein said selectively reacting comprises fermenting. 
     
     
         7 . A method according to  claim 3 , wherein said at least one second sugar precursor comprises a pentose. 
     
     
         8 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein said at least one second sugar comprises a pentose. 
     
     
         9 . A method according to  claim 7 , wherein said pentose is selected from the group consisting of xylose, xylulose, lyxose, ribulose and arabinose. 
     
     
         10 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein said at least one second sugar comprises a disaccharide. 
     
     
         11 . A method according to  claim 3 , wherein said at least one second sugar precursor comprises a disaccharide. 
     
     
         12 . A method according to  claim 10 , wherein said disaccharide is selected from the group consisting of trehalose, gentiobiose, kojibiose, nigerose, sophorose and laminarobiose. 
     
     
         13 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein said at least one second sugar is xylose. 
     
     
         14 . A method according to  claim 1 , comprising reacting at least one of said second sugar to form a second sugar product. 
     
     
         15 . A method according to  claim 3 , comprising reacting at least two of said at least one second sugar precursor to form at least one second sugar product. 
     
     
         16 . A method according to  claim 14 , wherein said at least one second sugar is xylose and wherein said second sugar product is selected from xylitol and a rumen bypass protein. 
     
     
         17 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the weight ratio between said at least one second sugar to said first sugar prior to said selectively reacting is R1;   the weight ratio between said at least one second sugar to said first sugar in said product mixture is R2; and   the ratio of R2 to R1 is greater than 5.   
     
     
         18 . A method according to  claim 3 , wherein:
 the weight ratio between said at least one second sugar precursor to said first sugar prior to said selectively reacting is R1;   the weight ratio between said at least one second sugar precursor to said first sugar in said product mixture is R2; and   the ratio of R2 to R1 is greater than 5.   
     
     
         19 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the total weight of said at least one second sugar comprises at least 50% of the total sugars in said product mixture. 
     
     
         20 . A method according to  claim 3 , wherein the total weight of said at least one second sugar precursor is equal to at least 50% of the total sugars in said product mixture. 
     
     
         21 .- 143 . (canceled)