Liquid Glucose or Corn Syrup is a colorless, odorless, viscous sweet syrup that is manufactured from refined starch. The starch is converted i.e. hydrolyzed by means of adding enzymes. Liquid Glucose is a mixture of Glucose, Maltose and Higher Saccharides. Liquid Glucose /corn syrups are hydrolysis products of starch and they are all mixtures of polymers of D. Glucose. They are purified concentrated aqueous solutions of nutritive saccharides having D.E. values between 38 and 50 and a combination of mono, di, tri, tetra, penta and higher saccharides. The typical carbohydrate spectrum of the various syrups are below.
The choice of Glucose Syrup depends on the requirements of the user. Generally, a low converted syrup acts as a bodying agent. It is used as a 'Humectant' for frozen dairy products. A high converted syrup acts as a sweetening Agent. Intermediate conversions indicate that the syrup is used in the beverage, confectionery and frozen dairy products industry. In the confectionery industry, it includes sweets like toffees, caramels, galantine gums and chewing gums. Liquid Glucose is used in the pharmaceutical industry for the manufacture of cough syrups, antacid suspensions and other mixtures. The tobacco industry uses Liquid Glucose for the curing of tobacco leaves. This apart, Liquid Glucose adds softness and weight gain to leather in the tanning process. It is also used as an anti-caking agent in shoe polish. Finally, Liquid Glucose is used as a binder in the building & construction industry.