Granulated maltitol for direct compression and method of preparation thereof

Method of production of granulated maltitol, comprising the following stages:

• a) preparing a maltitol syrup having a dry matter less than 50 wt. %, and with a maltitol concentration greater than 70 wt. %,
• b) introducing, in a fluidized air bed granulator, a pulverulent bed of crystallized maltitol with a concentration at least equal to 99 wt. % and having a mean diameter between 30 and 100 μm,
• c) controlling the air inlet temperature of the granulator to a value between 100 and 120° C., and the velocity of the fluidization air to a value between 1 and 2 m/s. d) fine spraying of the maltitol syrup from stage a) in said granulator, at a temperature between 35 and 45° C. on the pulverulent moving bed of particles of crystallized maltitol of stage b);
• said bed having a temperature between 30 and 60° C.;
• the mass of the bed representing constantly at least 2.5 times the mass of the sprayed syrup,
• e) drying by raising the temperature of the air of the granulator, at the end of fine spraying of said syrup, to a temperature less than the melting point of maltitol until the temperature of the bed is between 70 and 80° C.,
• f) cooling of the granulated maltitol thus obtained to a temperature of at most 25° C. and collecting the granulated maltitol thus obtained.