Glucose

Glucose, also known as corn sugar, maize sugar, or simply dextrose, is the most widely distributed and important monosaccharide in nature. It is a polyhydroxy aldehyde. It has a sweet taste but is less sweet than sucrose. It is soluble in water, slightly soluble in ethanol, and insoluble in Ether. Its aqueous solution is dextrorotatory, hence it is also called "dextrose." Glucose plays a vital role in the biological field as an energy source for living cells and an intermediate in metabolism. Plants produce glucose through photosynthesis. It is widely used in the candy manufacturing industry and other important fields.
Properties: White crystals or granular powder. Sweet taste, with a sweetness level 0.74 times that of sucrose. 1g dissolves in about 1ml of water and about 60ml of ethanol. Melting point is 83°C. Specific optical rotation [α]D +102.0°→+47.9° (in water).
Uses: In the food and beverage industries, it is used as a sweetener, nutrient, and filler. In the pharmaceutical industry, it can be formulated into nutritional solutions for oral or intravenous injections. In the leather industry, it is used as a reducing agent for sole leather and suitcase leather.
Product Attributes:
As a fundamental element of the human body and the most basic pharmaceutical raw material, glucose has extensive functions and applications. Especially with the improvement of people's living standards, glucose, as a substitute for sucrose in the food industry, has opened up broader application fields.
  (1) Fermentation Industry
  In the fermentation industry, glucose serves as the most basic nutrient base and is the main component of fermentation media. It is widely used in the production of antibiotics, monosodium glutamate, vitamins, amino acids, organic acids, and enzyme preparations. It is also used as a raw material for microbial polysaccharides and organic solvents.
  (2) Food Industry
  With the improvement of living standards and the continuous development of food technology, the application of glucose in the food industry is becoming increasingly widespread.
  1. Traditional Candy Industry: Glucose has evolved from being merely an additive to a primary raw material, improving the taste of candies while meeting nutritional and health requirements.
  2. Developing Pastry and Cold Beverage Industry: As a new high-end food additive, glucose is used in the production of various pastries and cold beverages to enhance flavor, texture, and color, especially improving product quality. It is highly recommended by industry professionals. Specific applications include: additive for various alcoholic beverages, flavor and color enhancer for baked goods, soft drinks, cakes, puddings, canned foods, dairy products, coffee, cocoa products, cold beverages, ice cream, meat products, sausages, fish products, various pasta, convenience foods, chewing gum, etc.
  3. Emerging Vegetable Processing Industry: With increasing international demand and advancements in vegetable processing technology, glucose, as a nutrient and preservative, plays an irreplaceable role in high-end preservation and dehydrated vegetable processing.
  (3) Chemical Industry
  Glucose is widely used in the chemical industry, such as in adhesives, cast products, plastic products, printing and dyeing, leather tanning, electroplating, drilling, paints, soaps, pesticides, matches, etc.
  (4) Synthesis and Conversion
  Glucose can undergo hydrogenation, oxidation, isomerization, alkaline degradation, esterification, acetalization, and other reactions to synthesize or convert into other products. For example, hydrogenation produces sorbitol; oxidation produces glucuronic acid, diacid, etc., which can further be made into calcium, sodium, or zinc salts, as well as gluconolactone; isomerization produces F42, F55, F90 high-fructose corn syrups and crystalline fructose; it can also be isomerized into mannose (a raw material for producing mannitol). Sorbitol can be further used to produce vitamin C, widely applied in clinical treatments, while 15% mannitol is used clinically as a safe and effective drug to reduce intracranial pressure for treating cerebral edema and glaucoma.
  (5) Pharmaceutical Industry
  Glucose is a carbohydrate that can be directly absorbed and utilized to supplement energy. It is the main source of energy for the human body. In the body, it is oxidized into carbon dioxide and water, simultaneously supplying energy and converting into glycogen or fat for storage. Glucose promotes the detoxification function of the liver and has a protective effect on the liver. It is mainly used to supplement energy and body fluids, for insufficient food intake or significant fluid loss due to various reasons, and as supplementary nutrition for weakness and malnutrition. Its main medical uses can be divided into oral and injectable forms. Oral glucose can be taken alone or as multivitamin glucose.