Sorbitol is produced by catalytic hydrogenation of glucose on a large industrial scale (1.1 million tons/year; Patel, 2006). Besides the food industry, it can be used for production of surfactants and polyurethanes. Sorbitol has potential for the production of isosorbide at low costs (if higher yields are achieved through optimization of process conditions and dehydration catalysts). Isosorbide is a very effective monomer for raising the glass transition

temperature of polymers. The major applications are as a copolymer with PET for the use in bottle production. Hydrogenolysis of sorbitol leads to glycols, while direct polymerization forms polyesters for the resin market, whose characteristics need to be properly tested.

2,5-FDCA is formed by an oxidative dehydration of glucose, where side reactions still need to be minimized. FDCA has a large potential as a replacement for terephthalic acid, a widely used component in various polyesters, such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polybutyleneterephthalate (PBT). This bulk chemical has high versatility in production of derivatives through simple chemical reactions: selective reduction leads to partially or fully hydrogenated products (with applications as new polyesters), combination with diamines produces new nylons, etc. (Werpy and Petersen, 2004). Like the other sugar-derived products, the primary technical barriers to production and use of FDCA include development of effec­tive and selective dehydration processes for sugars.

Glucaric acid is the product of catalytic oxidation (with nitric acid, which should be replaced by oxygen) of glucose. Glucaric acid can serve as starting point for the production of a wide range of products with applicability in high volume markets, like new nylons (e. g., polyhydroxypolyamides) or new surfactants.