Method of producing fructose syrup from agave plants

A method of producing a fructose syrup from inulin-containing plant pulp comprising the steps of:

• (a) extracting said plant pulp with water at a temperature of 60.degree. C. to less than 85.degree. C. to produce a liquefied pulp, wherein said liquefied pulp includes a polyfructose solution;
• (b) separating and concentrating said polyfructose solution from said liquefied pulp to yield a polyfructose concentrate;
• (c) filtering said polyfructose concentrate to remove suspended solids from said polyfructose concentrate;
• (d) maintaining and agitating said polyfructose concentrate at from 50.degree. C. to 90.degree. C. for at least 40 minutes to coagulate colloids in said polyfructose concentrate;
• (e) removing said coagulated colloids from said polyfructose concentrate to produce a partially purified polyfructose extract;
• (f) mixing activated charcoal with said partially purified polyfructose extract to produce a slurry by:
• (i) maintaining the temperature of said slurry to from 40.degree. C. to 80.degree. C.;
• (ii) agitating said slurry for approximately 30 to 120 minutes;
• (iii) removing said activated charcoal from said slurry to produce a further purified polyfructose extract;
• (g) hydrolyzing said further purified polyfructose extract to produce a hydrolyzed fructose extract by:
• (i) reducing the pH of said further purified polyfructose extract using a cation exchange resin;
• (ii) sequentially contacting said further purified polyfructose extract with an anionic exchange resin and a cationic exchange resin to produce a demineralized and partially hydrolyzed polyfructose extract;
• and
• (iii) introducing inulin enzymes into said demineralized and partially hydrolyzed polyfructose extract to produce said hydrolyzed fructose extract;
• and
• (h) concentrating said hydrolyzed fructose extract to produce a fructose syrup.

A method of producing fructose syrup from an inulin-containing plant, comprising the steps of:

• (a) converting said inulin-containing plant to a pulp;
• (b) extracting said pulp with water to produce a liquefied pulp, wherein said liquefied pulp includes a polyfructose solution;
• (c) separating said polyfructose solution from said liquefied pulp;
• (d) hydrolyzing said polyfructose solution to produce a hydrolyzed fructose extract by:
• (i) reducing the pH of said polyfructose extract using a cation exchange resin to produce a demineralized and partially hydrolyzed polyfructose extract;
• and
• (ii) introducing inulin enzymes to said demineralized and partially hydrolyzed polyfructose extract to produce said hydrolyzed polyfructose extract;
• and
• (e) concentrating said hydrolyzed fructose extract to produce a fructose syrup.