Manitol Production Essay

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Chapter 1 Introduction Mannitol, also referred to as mannite or manna sugar, is a white crystalline sugar alcohol found in many plants. Its structural formula is shown in Figure 1. It is a sugar alcohol (polyol), similar to xylitol or sorbitol. It is a non-permeating molecule, which means it cannot cross biological materials. Solutions with mannitol are acidic, since this polyol has a tendency to lose hydrogen ions when in aqueous solutions. It is just half as sweet as sucrose, but like other sugar alcohols, it exhibits lesser caloric values as opposed to the respective value of most sugars, which make them applicable as light-food sweeteners. Furthermore, sugar alcohols are metabolized independently of insulin and are thus applicable in diabetic food products (von Weymarn, 2002). It is also used to decrease cellular edema which is the excessive accumulation of body fluid especially in certain kidney conditions, and as an osmotic diuretic to increase urinary output by increasing the amount of fluid excreted by the kidneys of patients suffering from oliguric renal failure. Clinically, it aids in the reduction of acutely raised intracranial pressure commonly ensuing to brain swelling, especially after a head trauma (Wakai, 2005). It can also be used to open the blood-brain barrier by temporarily shrinking the tightly coupled endothelial cells that make up the barrier. This makes mannitol indispensable for delivering various drugs directly to the brain especially in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease (Roberts et al., 2007). Mannitol is also responsible for the cooling effect of most breath-freshening candies since it has a positive heat of solution. It is sometimes used as an adulterant or cutting agent for methamphetamines and other illicit drugs. When used in this manner it is referred to as baby laxative. In oral doses

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