Method of preparing a mixture of mannitol and sorbitol by continuous hydrogenation of glucosone

Abstract

The invention relates to a method of preparing a mixture of mannitol and sorbitol, charactertized by the fact that continuous hydrogenation of glucosone with a solid matter content equal to at least 30%, preferably between 30 and 50%, is carried out in a succession of fixed catalyst beds disposed in series, which includes a first hydrogenation zone, made up of at least one fixed catalyst bed where hydrogenation is carried out at a temperature equal at the most to 80° C., preferably between 50 and 80° C., and a second hydrogenation zone, made up of at least one fixed catalyst bed where hydrogenation is carried out at a temperature equal to at least 80° C., preferably between 100 to 150° C.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.