Methods of producing oligosaccharides for use as prebiotics

Abstract

Provided herein are methods for preparing prebiotic oligosaccharides by non-enzymatic methods of glycosylation of monosaccharides and/or disaccharides or by hydrolysis of polymeric sugars to monosaccharides and simultaneous glycosylation of hydrolytic products. The methods may include mixing one or more types of monosaccharides and/or disaccharides with a water-deficient system at a temperature sufficient to form one or more types of prebiotic oligosaccharides. Also provided are methods of preparing prebiotic oligosaccharides comprising mixing starch, cellulose and/or lignocellulosic biomass with a water-deficient system at a temperature sufficient to form one or more types of prebiotic oligosaccharides that collectively make up at least 25% of the products of the synthesis.

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