Method for extracting D-galactose from vegetable starting material by acid hydrolysis

1. A D-galactose mixture produced according to the process comprising:

(i) providing water;

(ii) dissolving or suspending galactoarabinan in the water provided in (i) or water acidified in accordance with (iii);

(iii) adding hydrochloric acid to the solution or suspension obtained in accordance with (ii) or to the water provided in (i), so that the aqueous phase of the acidified solution or suspension has a pH in the range from 1 to 1.3, so that the aqueous solution or suspension of galactoarabinan provided contains 5 to 25% by weight of galactoarabinan, relating to the total weight of the solution or suspension;

and then:

(iv) heating of the solution or suspension provided to a temperature in the range from 95 to 110° C. and maintaining it at this temperature for a period in the range from 20 to 30 hours;

(v) optionally filtering the solution or suspension;

(vi) neutralizing the solution or suspension that exists after heating and maintaining the temperature or after filtration;

(vii) separating the D-galactose formed, possibly in a mixture with other substances, from the resultant product mixture; and

(viii) recrystallizing the D-galactose as necessary,

and wherein the D-galactose mixture comprises:

Galacturonic acid: at 0.2-1% by weight,

L-arabinose: at up to 1.5% by weight,

D-galactose: at 97.5-99.5% by weight,

wherein the percentage weight figures relate to the total dry mass of the mixture.

2. The mixture as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising a maximum residual moisture of 0.5% by weight.

3. A D-galactose mixture, comprising:

Galacturonic acid: at 0.2 to 1% by weight,

L-arabinose: at 0.3% to 1.5% by weight,

D-galactose: 97.5-99.5% by weight,

wherein the percentage weight figures relate to the total dry mass of the mixture.

4. The mixture of claim 2 , wherein the maximum residual moisture is 0.3% by weight.