Abstract

Novel, highly useful, sweet fructose-containing syrups also containing fructooligosaccharides are provided herein by the partial or substantially complete hydrolysis of inulin. The process includes first providing an aqueous solution containing inulin from Jerusalem artichoke tubers or chicory roots. Then the warm aqueous solution of inulin is passed through a column containing a strong acid cation-exchange resin, thereby providing an effluent having a pH of about 2.0-about 3.0. The effluent is then hydrolyzed by heating at a temperature of about 70°-about 100° C., and the hydrolyzate is passed through a column containing of about 6.5-about 7.0. resin, thereby providing an effluent having a pH about 6.5-about 7.0. Optionally, after the hydrolysis step, the hydrolyzate is decolorized by contact with activated or granular charcoal. The effluent is then concentrated to a syrup containing less water than the effluent, e.g. one containing about 40-about 70% solids. The sweet fructose syrup containing oligofructans can be used as truly "health" sweetener, particularly ideal for elderly people and diabetics. The pulp obtained after the juice extraction is rich in protein and can be used as feed.