|
Wednesday, April 2, 2003 Georgia
trees may be sweetening your coffee Dr. Jim Kastner, a biological and agricultural engineer with the UGA College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, has been working for more than a year on a research project focused on a fermentation process to extract the alternative sweetener from common byproduct of the pulp and paper industry. Considering Georgia's 26 pulp mills, the potential for a lucrative market becomes obvious. Xylitol would be derived from an under utilized byproduct stream. Kastner points out that xylitol does not come directly from the tree; it is actually produced from a wood residue substance. "The sweetener, xylitol, is a highly valued product that is growing in worldwide demand," Kastner said. "It's commonly used in chewing gum, pharmaceuticals, and dental hygiene products. Xylitol has many benefits. Not only is xylitol just as sweet as regular table sugar, it also generates a cooling sensation in the mouth." On an ingredient basis, xylitol has been found especially attractive as a non sugar sweetener for chewing vitamins and gums, tablets, cough syrups, mouth washes, toothpastes, gelatin, puddings, ice cream, baked products, etc. According to the latest research, xylitol is better for you health wise than regular sugar. It has a third fewer calories, does not cause cavities, and may even prevent tooth decay. Xylitol can also be used as a sugar alternative for diabetics. This sugar substitute has also been known to inhibit growth of certain bacteria, including a form of bacteria that is a common cause of ear infections in children. At UGA, Kastner is hopeful that hardwood byproducts from Georgia's pulp and paper industry will become a viable and cost effective source of xylitol a source that could possibly reduce retail prices in conjunction with an already available source for mass production. "This is what makes the research so enticing," Kastner said. "We're working with what is currently considered a waste byproduct being generated for another purpose in the pulp and paper industry - something that has been there for a long time, but has never been used." Kastner has worked closely with a Georgia pulp and paper mill to determine how well certain aspects of his extraction process works. The findings have led to a number of valuable conclusions. Kastner's xylitol research has been determined to have the potential to produce a number of useful chemicals in addition to xylose (used in production of xylitol). One such chemical is ribose, which is used to synthesize anticancer drugs. "If we develop the technology to apply to Georgia's pulp and paper industry, the infrastructure will be established to possibly produce xylitol on a large scale, at a more cost effective level, and reduce retail prices," said Kastner. "The foundation for this enterprise is already in place. What we need to do is find a way to take advantage of it. The process may take a number of years, but the benefits could be well worth it."
Back to Home & Garden Home Page | Back to the top of the page |