Abstract

A process for the obtention of fructose and fructose-rich syrups from xerophyte plants, particularly of the genus Amarillidaceae, such as Agave, comprises separately collecting the plant material consisting of the leaf portions and the core portions of the plant; admixing and washing with water said plant materials; chopping the washed plant material to form small pieces and recovering the juices released by the chopping operation; subjecting the chopped material to an extraction process with an aqueous liquor expressing the residual solid plant material to expel the enriched extractant therefrom; admixing the plant juice and extractant to obtain a mixed juice, settling and clarifying said mixed juice; acidulating the liquid phase of the process at a preselected moment in the sequence, such that the settled and clarified juice will be brought to a pH of from about 3 to about 4; allowing said acidulated liquid phase to stand for a period of time of from about 2 to 3 hours at a temperature of from about 85° C. to the boiling point; neutralizing the acidulated juice, clarifying the filtered and neutralized juice, heating the clarified and filtered juice, concentrating the heated juice by evaporation; pasteurizing the concentrated juice whereby to obtain a fructose-rich syrup; and crystallizing said fructose-rich syrup to recover crystallized fructose therefrom.