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."

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