Mannitol

Mannitol (CAS 69-65-8), also known by the food additive designation E421, is a sugar alcohol sourced primarily from natural origins and used across food, pharmaceutical, and personal care manufacturing. It functions as a low-calorie bulk sweetener, humectant, and excipient. It is valued for its non-hygroscopic character in solid dosage forms and its clean, mild sweetness in food applications.

In pharmaceutical manufacturing, it is a preferred filler and diluent for tablets and capsules, particularly in direct compression and freeze-drying processes where moisture uptake must be minimized. Confectionery and chewing gum producers use it as a dusting agent and sweetener that resists sticking and delivers a cooling mouthfeel. It provides a stable texture in various food products.

Parenteral formulations rely on this ingredient as an osmotic agent in intravenous solutions, where precise tonicity control is critical for patient safety and product efficacy during medical use. In personal care, it acts as a humectant and chelating agent in skincare formulations, helping to stabilize active ingredients and retain moisture in the product matrix for better performance.

The product is supplied as a white crystalline powder or granules. Recognized quality standards include USP, BP, Ph. Eur., and FCC, covering both pharmaceutical and food-grade requirements. Bulk quantities are standard for industrial buyers, with smaller packaging available for specialty or R&D applications. Granulated forms are often preferred for direct compression tableting processes.