Polyol mixtures, which is set in a targeted manner on the basis of sorbitol, process for their preparation and their use for the production of sorbitan esters

摘要

A polyalcohol mixture is produced by heating dehydrating a reaction mixture comprising D-sorbitol, L-sorbitol or a mixture thereof in the presence of an acid catalyst. The reaction progress is followed by measuring the optical rotation of the reaction mixture during the reaction. The reaction is stopped when the optical rotation value of the reaction mixture corresponds to the optical rotation value of the desired polyalcohol mixture.