New Mannitol Production Technique Developed by ARSNew Mannitol Production Technique Developed by ARS

New Mannitol Production Technique Developed by ARS

BELTSVILLE, Md.

A newproduction method for mannitol, based on bacterial fermentation, has beendeveloped by the Agricultural Research Service (ARS), the chief scientificresearch agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), in conjunctionwith Chicago-based zuChem Inc.

The new production method involves feeding high-fructose corn syrup to Lactobacillusintermedius bacteria in a deep-tank fermentor; withinseveral hours, the bacteria convert 72 percent of the syrup into mannitol. ARSobtained a patent (U.S. 6,855,526, B2) on the process in February.

In 2004, zuChem successfully petitioned the Food and Drug Administration(FDA) to approve mannitol produced by microbial fermentation.