| abstract |
A process is provided for making isoidide, wherein a dextrose feed is first converted by a combination of epimerizaton and hydrogenation to an iditol-enriched mixture of hexitols in the presence of hydrogen and in the further presence of a single, dual purpose catalyst, and the iditol is then conventionally fully dehydrated to provide isoidide. In one general embodiment, the dehydration is performed on the iditol-enriched mixture of hexitols to provide an isohexides product mixture including isoidide, and the isoidide is recovered therefrom. In another general embodiment, iditol is separated from the iditol-enriched mixture of hexitols, and at least a portion of this iditol is then dehydrated to provide an isoidide product. |