arabinose derivatives, including lactones, arabinonic acid and lixonic acid. These processes require high temperatures (around 100 °C) and expensive catalysts, and generally involve extensive purification of the feedstock prior to catalytic reduction.

Biotechnological production routes have also been developed. L-Arabitol can be obtained by microbial fermentation using organisms capable of metabolizing L-arabinose, including Candida tropicalis, Pichia stipitis