Method for producing maltitol, with an increased yield

Abstract

A process for producing maltitol includes at least: producing a maltose syrup, by hydrolysis of a granular starch, in a first stage of liquefaction of granular starch to form a liquefied starch, followed by a stage of saccharification of the liquefied starch to which an aqueous solution of beta-amylase has been added, to form the maltose syrup; hydrogenating the maltose syrup to form an aqueous maltitol composition; and recovering the maltitol composition. The aqueous solution of beta-amylase also includes potassium sorbate, glycerol, and sodium carbonate.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A process for producing maltitol, comprising:
 (a) producing a maltose syrup, by hydrolysis of a granular starch, in a first stage of liquefaction of granular starch to form a liquefied starch, followed by a stage of saccharification of the liquefied starch to which an aqueous solution of beta-amylase has been added, to form the maltose syrup A;   (b) optionally subjecting the maltose syrup A to at least one of concentration, of dilution, of enrichment in maltose, and of mixing with another starch hydrolyzate syrup to form maltose syrup B;   (c) hydrogenating one of the maltose syrup A and the maltose syrup B to form an aqueous maltitol composition C;   (d) optionally subjecting the maltitol composition C to at least one of concentration, of dilution, of enrichment in maltitol, of mixing with an additional polyol syrup to form an aqueous maltitol composition D;   (e) optionally forming maltitol powder from one of the maltitol composition C the maltitol composition D;   (f) recovering one of the maltitol composition C, the maltitol composition D or the maltitol powder;   wherein the aqueous solution of beta-amylase, also comprises:
 potassium sorbate; 
 glycerol; and 
 sodium carbonate. 
   
     
     
         2 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein the aqueous solution of beta-amylase comprises:
 (a) from 0.05 to 0.5% of potassium sorbate;   (b) from 30 to 50% of glycerol;   (c) from 0.05 to 0.5% of sodium carbonate; and   these percentages being expressed as percentage by dry weight of each constituent relative to a total weight of said aqueous solution.   
     
     
         3 . The process according to  claim 2 , wherein the aqueous solution of beta-amylase comprises:
 (a) from 0.1 to 0.3% potassium sorbate;   (b) from 35 to 45%, glycerol;   (c) from 0.1 to 0.3%, sodium carbonate.   
     
     
         4 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein the aqueous solution has a content by dry weight of beta-amylase of between 5 and 20%. 
     
     
         5 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein, the stage liquefaction is carried out by enzymatic hydrolysis by means of an alpha-amylase. 
     
     
         6 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein the saccharification is carried out in the presence of at least one additional enzyme, selected from the group consisting of maltogenic alpha-amylases, fungal alpha-amylases and debranching enzymes. 
     
     
         7 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein the maltitol recovered is in the form of an aqueous composition, and the maltitol dry weight of the aqueous composition, expressed as dry weight, ranges from 30 to 99.9%. 
     
     
         8 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein the beta-amylase aqueous solution is stored for a time of at least one day before introduction into the liquefied starch. 
     
     
         9 . A process for producing maltitol, comprising:
 saccharifying a liquefied starch in the presence of a stored stabilized aqueous solution of beta-amylase, to form maltose syrup A, said stabilized solution comprising potassium sorbate, glycerol, and sodium carbonate;   optionally subjecting the maltose syrup A to at least one of concentration, of dilution, of enrichment in maltose, and of mixing with another starch hydrolyzate syrup to form maltose syrup B,   hydrogenating one of the maltose syrup A and the maltose syrup B to form an aqueous maltitol composition C;   optionally subjecting the maltitol composition C to at least one of concentration, dilution, enrichment in maltitol, mixing with an additional polyol syrup to form an aqueous maltitol composition D;   optionally forming maltitol powder from one of the maltitol composition C the maltitol composition D;   recovering one of the maltitol composition C, the maltitol composition D and the maltitol powder.   
     
     
         10 . The process according to  claim 9 , wherein the aqueous solution of beta-amylase contains between 10 and 20% beta-amylase by dry weight, from 0.1 to 0.3% potassium sorbate from 0.1 to 0.3% sodium carbonate and glycerol. 
     
     
         11 . The process according to  claim 10 , wherein the aqueous solution of beta-amylase contains from 35 to 50% by weight water. 
     
     
         12 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein the aqueous solution of beta-amylase has been stored for up to 300 days. 
     
     
         13 . The process according to  claim 9 , wherein the stored aqueous solution of beta-amylase has been stored for up to 300 days.