Sorbitol is white hygroscopic powder or crystalline powder, flake or granule, odorless. The melting point varies from 88 ℃ to 102℃ and the relative density is about 1.49, depending on the crystallization conditions. Soluble in water (1g soluble in about 0.45ml water), slightly soluble in ethanol and acetic acid. It has a cool sweetness, about half as sweet as sucrose, and its calorific value is similar to that of sucrose. Sorbitol solution is a clear, colorless, syrupy liquid, sweet, neutral to litmus, miscible with water, glycerol and propylene glycol.
The application of sorbitol in pharmaceutical industry is as follows:
The lost water sorbitol produced by nitrification is a drug for the treatment of coronary heart disease.
Sorbitol is a raw material which can be used to produce vitamin C. Vitamin C can be produced by fermentation and chemical synthesis.
Sorbitol can be used as a sweetener and nutrient in food for patients with diabetes, liver disease, cholecystitis and obesity.
Sorbitol can be used as a diuretic dehydrating agent, used in the treatment of brain edema and intracranial pressure increased, treatment of glaucoma intraocular pressure increased, also used in the normal heart and kidney function of edema, oliguria.
