Theory of the milieu dependent isomerisation dynamics of reducing sugars applied to d-erythrose.

•Solutions of reducing sugars show limited self-stabilising behaviour.•The decomposition of a reducing sugar causes a deceleration of sugar degradation.•Equilibrium constants potentially can be photo affected.•Activation enthalpy/entropy can be calculated as a function of pD and temperature.•Sugar degradation kinetics are related to isomerisation dynamics.