Process for the preparation of a maltose-rich syrup

Abstract

The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of a maltose-rich syrup comprising the steps of (a) carrying out liquefaction of a starch milk; (b) carrying out saccharification of the liquefied starch milk in the presence of a β-amylase and at least one debranching enzyme selected from the group comprising pullulanases and isoamylases; (c) carrying out molecular sieving of the liquefied and saccharified starch milk so as to collect a fraction enriched with maltose and a fraction enriched with glucose; and (d) bringing said fraction enriched with maltose into contact with a maltogenic α-amylase with a view to obtaining a maltose-rich syrup.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A process for the preparation of a maltose-rich syrup comprising the successive steps of: 
 (a) carrying out liquefaction of a starch milk;    (b) carrying out saccharification of the liquefied starch milk in the presence of a β-amylase and at least one debranching enzyme selected from the group comprising pullulanases and isoamylases;    (c) carrying out molecular sieving of the liquefied and saccharified starch milk so as to collect a fraction enriched in maltose and a fraction enriched in glucose;    (d) bringing said fraction enriched with maltose into contact with a maltogenic α-amylase in order to obtain a maltose-rich syrup; and    (e) crystallizing the maltose-rich syrup in order to obtain a crystallized maltose.    
     
     
         2 . The process of  claim 1  further including the step of hydrogenating the maltose-rich syrup in order to obtain a maltitol rich syrup.  
     
     
         3 . The process of  claim 1  further including the step of crystallizing the maltitol rich syrup in order to obtain a crystallized maltitol.  
     
     
         4 . The process of  claim 1  further including the steps of: 
 (a) crystallizing the maltitol-rich syrup;  
 (b) carrying out molecular sieving of the crystallization mother liquors so as to obtain a maltitol-rich fraction and a maltitol-poor fraction;  
 (c) recycling said maltitol-rich fraction upstream of the crystallization step;  
 (d) carrying out acid and/or enzymatic hydrolysis of said maltitol-poor fraction;  
 (e) carrying out hydrogenation of said hydrolyzed maltitol-poor fraction.  
 
     
     
         5 . Crystallized maltose obtained by crystallizing a maltose-rich syrup as obtained according to  claim 1 .  
     
     
         6 . Maltitol-rich syrup obtained by hydrogenating a maltose-rich syrup as obtained according to  claim 1 .  
     
     
         7 . Crystallized maltitol obtained by hydrogenating a maltose-rich syrup as obtained according to  claim 1  and then crystallizing the thus obtained maltitol-rich syrup.  
     
     
         8 . Crystallized maltitol obtained by hydrogenating a maltose-rich syrup as obtained according to  claim 1  and then crystallizing the thus obtained maltitol-rich syrup.  
     
     
         9 . A process for the preparation of a maltose-rich syrup comprising the successive steps of: 
 (a) carrying out liquefaction of a starch milk;    (b) carrying out saccharification of the liquefied starch milk in the presence of a β-amylase;    (c) carrying out molecular sieving of the liquefied and saccharified starch milk so as to collect a fraction enriched in maltose and a fraction enriched in glucose;    (d) bringing said fraction enriched with maltose into contact with a maltogenic α-amylase and at least one debranching enzyme selected from the group comprising pullulanases and isoamylases in order to obtain a maltose-rich syrup; and    (e) crystallizing the maltose-rich syrup in order to obtain a crystallized maltose.    
     
     
         10 . The process of  claim 9  further including the step of hydrogenating the maltose-rich syrup in order to obtain a maltitol rich syrup.  
     
     
         11 . The process of  claim 9  further including the step of crystallizing the maltitol rich syrup in order to obtain a crystallized maltitol.  
     
     
         12 . The process of  claim 9  further including the steps of: 
 (a) crystallizing the maltitol-rich syrup;  
 (b) carrying out molecular sieving of the crystallization mother liquors so as to obtain a maltitol-rich fraction and a maltitol-poor fraction;  
 (c) recycling said maltitol-rich fraction upstream of the crystallization step;  
 (d) carrying out acid and/or enzymatic hydrolysis of said maltitol-poor fraction; and  
 (e) carrying out hydrogenation of said hydrolyzed maltitol-poor fraction.  
 
     
     
         13 . Crystallized maltose obtained by crystallizing a maltose-rich syrup as obtained according to  claim 9 .  
     
     
         14 . Maltitol-rich syrup obtained by hydrogenating a maltose-rich syrup as obtained according to claim  9 .