Properties: Colorless to white needle-like or rhombic columnar crystals or crystalline powder. Odorless, with a cool sweet taste. Sweetness is about 57%-72% of sucrose. Produces 8.37 J of heat per gram, approximately half that of glucose. Contains a small amount of sorbitol. Relative density 1.49. Specific rotation -0.40° (10% aqueous solution). Extremely low hygroscopicity. Aqueous solution is stable. Not oxidized by atmospheric oxygen. Soluble in water (5.6g/100ml, 20°C) and glycerol (5.5g/100ml). Slightly soluble in ethanol (1.2g/ml). Soluble in hot ethanol. Almost insoluble in most other common organic solvents. pH of 20% aqueous solution is 5.5-6.5. Uses: Low-calorie sweetener; anti-sticking agent for chewing gum and candy;
 
White needle-like crystals. Melting point 166°C, relative density 1.52, 1.489 (20°C), boiling point 290-295°C (467kPa). 1g of this product is soluble in about 5.5ml water (approx. 18%, 25°C), 83ml alcohol, more soluble in hot water, soluble in pyridine and aniline, insoluble in ether. Aqueous solution is alkaline. This product is an isomer of sorbitol; sorbitol is highly hygroscopic, whereas this product is completely non-hygroscopic. Mannitol has a sweet taste, with a sweetness equivalent to 70% of sucrose.
Mannitol has the least water absorption among sugars and sugar alcohols, and has a refreshing sweet taste. It is used to prevent sticking in maltose, chewing gum, rice cakes, and other foods, as well as an anti-sticking powder for general pastries. It can also be used as a low-calorie, low-sugar sweetener for diabetic foods and health foods. If daily consumption is expected to exceed 20g, the label should indicate "Excessive consumption may have a laxative effect."
[Mannitol — Uses]
 
1. Application of Mannitol in Medicine
 
In medicine, mannitol is an excellent diuretic, used to reduce intracranial pressure, intraocular pressure, and treat kidney conditions. It serves as a dehydrating agent, sugar substitute, and is also used as an excipient for tablets and a diluent for solid and liquid formulations. Mannitol injection, as a hyperosmotic降壓 drug, is commonly used in clinical emergencies, particularly for brain disorders, offering the rapid pressure reduction and accurate efficacy required for intracranial pressure-lowering drugs. As a tablet excipient, mannitol is non-hygroscopic, dries quickly, has good chemical stability, and features a refreshing taste and good granulation properties, making it suitable for most tablets including anticancer drugs, antibiotics, antihistamines, and vitamins. Additionally, it is used in chewable tablets such as hangover remedies and mouth fresheners.
 
2. Application of Mannitol in Food
 
In the food industry, this product has the least water absorption among sugars and sugar alcohols and possesses a refreshing sweet taste. It is used to prevent sticking in maltose, chewing gum, rice cakes, and other foods, and as an anti-sticking powder for general pastries. It can also serve as a low-calorie, low-sugar sweetener for diabetic foods and health foods.
 
3. Industrial Application of Mannitol
 
In industry, mannitol can be used in the plastics sector to produce rosin acid esters, synthetic glycerol resins, nitrated mannitol, etc.
 
4. Application of Mannitol in Chemical Analysis
 
Mannitol can be used for the determination of boron and as a bacterial culture medium in biological testing. Although mannitol can be absorbed by the human gastrointestinal tract, it does not accumulate in the body. After absorption, part of it is metabolized in the body, and another part is excreted in urine; it can be reacted with hydrobromic acid to produce dibromomannitol.