Key facts
What buyers check first
- Appearance
- Needles from water
- Melting point
- 111 °C
- Boiling point
- 295 °C
- Density
- 1.489 g/cm³ 20 °C
- Flash point
- 283.3 °C
- HS code
- 290544
- Category
- Sweeteners
What is Sorbitol?
Plain description, key identifiers and synonyms
D-glucitol is the D-enantiomer of glucitol (also known as D-sorbitol). It has a role as a metabolite, a laxative, a sweetening agent, a cathartic, a mouse metabolite, a Saccharomyces cerevisiae metabolite, an Escherichia coli metabolite, a human metabolite and a food humectant. It is an enantiomer of a L-glucitol.
Identifiers
Registry numbers, names and line notations, tap to copy
- IUPAC name
- (2R,3R,4R,5S)-hexane-1,2,3,4,5,6-hexol
- CAS number
- 50-70-4 CAS number cross-checkedOther or deprecated CAS: 123236-29-3, 26566-34-7, 69-65-8, 75607-68-0, 98201-93-5
- EC numbers
- 200-061-5, 619-324-4
- Molecular formula
- C6H14O6
- UNII
- 506T60A25R
- MDL number
- MFCD00004708
- INCI name
- SORBITOL
- InChIKey
- FBPFZTCFMRRESA-JGWLITMVSA-N
- InChI
- InChI=1S/C6H14O6/c7-1-3(9)5(11)6(12)4(10)2-8/h3-12H,1-2H2/t3-,4+,5-,6-/m1/s1
- Canonical SMILES
- OCC(O)C(O)C(O)C(O)CO
- Isomeric SMILES
- C([C@H]([C@H]([C@@H]([C@H](CO)O)O)O)O)O
Synonyms
- D-Sorbitol
- D-Glucitol
- glucitol
- Glucarine
- (-)-Sorbitol
- Nivitin
- Sorbit
- D-(-)-Sorbitol
- Diakarmon
- Sorbilande
- Sorbostyl
- Esasorb
- Multitol
- Neosorb
- Sorbo
- Sorbol
- Cholaxine
- Sionit
- Sionite
- Sionon
- Siosan
- Karion instant
- Sorbitol F
- Sorbex Rp
- Sorbitol FP
Show all 39 synonymsShow fewer synonyms
- D-Sorbol
- Sionit K
- Sorbex M
- Sorbex R
- Sorbex S
- Sorbex X
- Sorbicolan
- Sorvilande
- Gulitol
- D-Sorbite
- Neosorb P 60
- Foodol D 70
- Neosorb 20/60DC
- Glucitol, D-
Physical and chemical properties
Measured values and descriptors computed from the structure
Physical and chemical properties
Measured values, check the supplier specification for your grade
| Appearance | Needles from waterexp.Measured value |
|---|---|
| Odour | Odorlessexp.Measured value |
| Taste | Sweet taste, approx 60% as sweet as sugar (wt/wt)exp.Measured value |
| Melting point | 111 °Cexp.Measured value |
| Boiling point | 295 °Cexp.Measured value |
| Density | 1.489 g/cm³ 20 °Cexp.Measured value |
| Flash point | 283.3 °Cexp.Measured value |
| Solubility | Freely sol in water (up to 83%), sol in methanol, isopropanol, butanol, cyclohexanol, phenol, acetone, acetic acid, dimethylformamide, pyridine, acetamide solutions, practically insoluble in most other org solvents, quite soluble in hot…exp.Measured value |
Values vary by grade. Ask suppliers for the COA or TDS of the batch you buy.
Computed descriptors
Calculated from the structure, useful for screening and formulation
| Molecular weight | 182.17 g/molcalc.Computed value |
|---|---|
| Exact mass | 182.079 Dacalc.Computed value |
| LogP (octanol/water) | -3.59calc.Computed value |
| Topological polar surface area | 121.4 Ųcalc.Computed value |
| Hydrogen bond donors | 6calc.Computed value |
| Hydrogen bond acceptors | 6calc.Computed value |
| Rotatable bonds | 5calc.Computed value |
| Heavy atoms | 12calc.Computed value |
| Rings | 0calc.Computed value |
| Aromatic rings | 0calc.Computed value |
| Fraction sp3 carbons | 1calc.Computed value |
| Formal charge | 0calc.Computed value |
| Stereocentres | 4calc.Computed value |
| Lipinski rule of five | Passes (1 violation)calc.Computed value |
Calculated for screening. Confirm critical figures with the supplier.
Safety and hazards
GHS classification summary, not a safety data sheet
GHS classification summary, not a safety data sheet (SDS). Classifications can differ by supplier, grade and concentration. Always check the supplier's SDS.
Full safety data and first aidSorbitol suppliers
Sponsored listings first, then the documented ranking: membership, verification, replies, completeness, freshness and ratings
- India, ChennaiUnclaimed profileSorbitolGrade, purity and minimum order on requestPrice on request
- China, Changsha ManufacturerUnclaimed profileSorbitolGrade, purity and minimum order on requestPrice on request
- United States, HoustonUnclaimed profileSorbitolGrade, purity and minimum order on requestPrice on request
- United States, West Palm BeachUnclaimed profileSorbitolGrade, purity and minimum order on requestPrice on request
- South Korea, Ansan ManufacturerUnclaimed profileSorbitolGrade, purity and minimum order on requestPrice on request
- Netherlands, HilversumUnclaimed profileSorbitolGrade, purity and minimum order on requestPrice on request
- IrelandUnclaimed profileSorbitolGrade, purity and minimum order on requestPrice on request
- Thailand ManufacturerUnclaimed profileSorbitolGrade, purity and minimum order on requestPrice on request
- Price on request
- China, HangzhouUnclaimed profileSorbitolGrade, purity and minimum order on requestPrice on request
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Where suppliers are based
427 suppliers in 62 countries
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Sorbitol price
Indicative price range per kg from live supplier offers
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Uses and applications
What the substance is used for, by industry and function
Sorbitol is widely used as an excipient in pharmaceutical formulations. It is also used extensively in cosmetics and food products. Sorbitol is used as a diluent in tablet formulations prepared by either wet granulation or direct compression. It is particularly useful in chewable tablets owing to its pleasant, sweet taste and cooling sensation. In capsule formulations it is used as a plasticizer for gelatin. Sorbitol has been used as a plasticizer in film formulations. In liquid preparations sorbitol is used as a vehicle in sugar-free formulations and as a stabilizer for drug, vitamin, and antacid suspensions. Furthermore, sorbitol is used as an excipient in liquid parenteral biologic formulations to provide effective protein stabilization in the liquid state. It has also been shown to be a suitable carrier to enhance the in vitro dissolution rate of indometacin.
Read more
In syrups it is effective in preventing crystallization around the cap of bottles. Sorbitol is additionally used in injectable and topical preparations ... Sorbitol may also be used analytically as a marker for assessing liver blood flow.
In the manufacture of sorbose, ascorbic acid, propylene glycol, synthetic plasticizers and resins, as humectant (moisture conditioner) on printing rolls, in leather, in writing inks, in candy mfr, in antifreeze mixture with glycerol or glycols increases absorption of pharmaceutical preparation, pharmaceutic aid (sweetening agent, tablet excipient), sugar substitute for diabetics.
Food uses of polyhydric alcohol, /sorbitol is used in flavor concentrate, confections, chewing gum, dried roasted nuts, meat products, pet foods, icings and toppings, coconut, beverages, special dietary foods/.
Reported uses
Industries and functions
Cosmetic ingredient, INCI name SORBITOL(humectant, fragrance, skin conditioning, perfuming)
Pharmacological actions
- Cathartics
- Indicators and Reagents
- Sweetening Agents
Roles
- Escherichia coli metabolite
- Saccharomyces cerevisiae metabolite
- additive
- analgesic
- anti-inflammatory agent
- antibacterial agent
- antimicrobial agent
- antineoplastic agent
- antiviral agent
- biophysical role
- cathartic
- flavouring agent
- food additive
- food component
- food humectant
- human metabolite
- humectant
- laxative
- metabolite
- mouse metabolite
- pharmaceutical
- physiological role
- sweetening agent
- vulnerary
Functional uses
- Biocide
- Crystal growth modifiers (nucleating agents)
- Drier
- Dye
- Flavouring and nutrient
- Fragrance
- Humectant
- Plasticizer
- Softener and conditioner
- Solvent
- Stabilizing agent
- Thickening agent
Cosmetic functions
- Fragrance
- Humectant
- Perfuming
- Skin conditioning
Pharmacology
Sorbitol is a sugar alcohol found in fruits and plants with diuretic, laxative and cathartic property. Unabsorbed sorbitol retains water in the large intestine through osmotic pressure thereby stimulating peristalsis of the intestine and exerting its diuretic, laxative and cathartic effect. In addition, sorbitol has one-third fewer calories and 60 % the sweetening activity of sucrose and is used as a sugar replacement in diabetes.
How it is made
Industrially, sorbitol is prepared by high pressure hydrogenation with a copper-chromium or nickel catalyst, or by electrolytic reduction of glucose and corn syrup. If cane or beet sugar is used as a source, the disaccharide is hydrolyzed to dextrose and fructose prior to hydrogenation.
Sorbitol is produced by the electrolytic reduction, or the transition metal catalytic hydrogenation of sugar solutions containing glucose or fructose.
In the batch process, 3 - 6 % of catalyst (based on glucose) is suspended in a ca. 50 % glucose solution whose pH has been adjusted to 6. The solution is then hydrogenated with hydrogen in an agitated autoclave at 120 - 150 °C and ca. 70 bar. The time of hydrogenation is 2 - 4 hr, depending on the type and amount of catalyst.
Regulatory status
Inventories, regulations and trade controls that list this substance
Health and food
- EU cosmetic ingredient inventory
- Active ingredient in FDA approved drug labels
- Food additive
United States
- Safer Choice ingredient list (USA)
- TSCA inventory (USA)Status: Active in US commerce
HS code and trade data
Customs classification and reported world trade statistics
Global trade
World import and export statistics for the HS code Sorbitol is traded under.
D-glucitol (sorbitol)
* Partner reported figures, a lower bound.
The HS code shown for Sorbitol is indicative (it was matched by name in the HS nomenclature). Confirm the classification with your customs broker before shipping.
Related chemicals
Parent and salt forms, stereoisomers, similar structures and isomers
Salt and hydrate forms
Records that share this compound as their parent
Stereoisomers and isotopic forms
Same connectivity, different stereochemistry or isotopes (same InChIKey skeleton)
Similar structures
Nearest neighbours by Morgan fingerprint Tanimoto similarity
Same formula isomers
Different compounds that share this molecular formula
![6-Deoxy-L-[2-13C]mannose monohydrate chemical structure, C6H14O6, CAS 478511-51-2](/s/BNRKZHXOBMEUGK-UHFFFAOYSA-N.svg)
![6-Deoxy-L-[1-13C]mannose monohydrate chemical structure, C6H14O6, CAS 478511-48-7](/s/CBDCDOTZPYZPRO-ONGVYXANSA-N.svg)
![6-Deoxy-L-[3-13C]mannose monohydrate chemical structure, C6H14O6, CAS 478511-54-5](/s/CBDCDOTZPYZPRO-SKWSBVGESA-N.svg)
Frequently asked questions
Quick answers about Sorbitol, based on the data on this page
What is Sorbitol?
What is the CAS number of Sorbitol?
What is the molecular formula and weight of Sorbitol?
What is Sorbitol used for?
Is Sorbitol hazardous?
What is the HS code of Sorbitol?
Where can I buy Sorbitol?
Where can I buy Sorbitol in India?
What is the price of Sorbitol?
Guides for buyers
Practical guides that help when you source, ship or handle Sorbitol
- Article, QualityPharma grades explained: IP vs BP vs USP vs EPWhat the Indian, British, US and European pharmacopoeias are, how their monographs differ, what multi grade claims mean and why a grade alone does not make a product fit for medicines.Read
- Article, QualityWhat a certificate of analysis should containThe parts of a complete COA, how to read it against your specification, the warning signs of a weak or copied certificate and how to verify results.Read
- Article, SourcingHow to write an RFQ that gets fast and accurate quotesWhat suppliers need to quote quickly and comparably: exact product identity, quantity and packing, delivery terms, documents, samples and payment, with a ready to use template.Read
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