Mannose solution

Unsulfured molasses and DSM were purchased from Anizam Resources Sdn. Bhd., Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia. The raw samples were transported to the laboratory and stored in a tight container at room temperature prior to analysis. The pH of the sample was determined using a pH-meter (Sartorius PB-10, Göttingen, Germany) by diluting at a ratio of 1:1 v/v with distilled water at ambient temperature. The moisture content was determined by oven-drying at 70 • C until a constant dry weight was obtained. Sugar profile was determined using High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) Waters Alliance 2695 HPLC Separations Module (ELS 2410) System (Waters Corporation, Milford, MA, USA) with Waters 2410 RI detector against standards of 1 mg/mL sucrose, glucose, fructose, galactose, mannose solution (Sigma-Aldrich, Darmstadt, Germany). The dried sample was digested for elemental analysis using concentrated nitric acid at a ratio of 1:10 w/v on a digester for about 10 min until brown fume disappeared. The trace elements were determined using inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) Optima 7300 DV (Perkin Elmer, Waltham, MA, USA). The organic C, N and sulfur (S) content of the dried sample were determined using TruMac CNS Analyzer (Leco Corporation, St. Joseph, MI, USA).