Xylitol is a natural pentose sugar alcohol, primarily derived from plant fibers, especially agricultural byproducts rich in hemicellulose such as corn cobs, birch bark, and sugarcane bagasse.
Corn cobs: As the most common raw material, corn cobs contain approximately 30%-35% hemicellulose. Hydrolysis yields xylose, which is then catalytically hydrogenated to produce xylitol. Its low cost and wide availability make it a mainstream choice for industrial production.
Birch bark: Birch bark is commonly used in Nordic countries to extract xylose, as it has a high xylose content, but its availability is geographically limited.
Sugarcane bagasse: A byproduct of the sugar industry, it requires complex processing such as decolorization and purification, making it suitable for comprehensive utilization by sugar factories.