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Chemical Engineering & Technology, Vol.18, No.6, 440-444, 1995
Inulin hydrolysis to fructose by a novel catalyst
Acidic zeolite LZ-M-8 was used to catalyse the hydrolysis reaction of inulin into fructose. Fructose contents of 96% and 75% were obtained when commercial inulin and Jerusalem artichoke extract were used respectively as substrates. Zeolite LZ-M-8 was found to be extremely selective towards inulin hydrolysis as compared to fructose decomposition. Formation of hydroxymethyl furfural (HmF) was not detected and it was confirmed that zeolite LZ-M-8 does not adsorb HMF. The catalytic activity of the zeolite remained intact upon repeated use of the catalyst. The superiority of the zeolite over other catalysts used in inulin hydrolysis was demonstrated experimentally.