3 ms·

I can't re-edit my post. Here's a related patent[1] which they might own. The ethanol is apparently trapped by cyclodextrins, I was wrong. [1]:http://www.googl

• aray 12y ago
  I'd doubt this because the rate of de-complexation is usually pretty low (which is why it's useful as a mechanism for slowed drug delivery -- the cyclodextrin-complexed compounds move around much more easily than the usually-hydrophobic drug de-complexes from the cyclodextrin). Edit: reading the application -- this doesn't appear to be cyclodextrins, but some configuration of small-chain length glucose polymers (mentioned 1-20 with an average of 10).
  • bertm 12y ago
    It looks like the powder is made by a physical process. Just as water absorbs into a towel. Ethanol apparently absorbs into dextrin powder and stays as a dry solid. From the patent: EXAMPLE II A 150 g. amount of the bulked 5 DE. MOR-REX dextrin of Example I was blended with 250 g. of 90% by weight water) ethanol in a Hobart mixer at speed No. 2 with a wire whisk for 2 minutes. A dry-tothe-touch free flowing powder was obtained that contained 56.2% ethanol and 8.3% moisture. The bulked ethanol containing flowable powder was packaged in air-tight foil envelopes and after 6 months storage had retained its flowability characteristics and its original alcohol content. EXAMPLE III A teaspoonful (3 g.) of the product of Example II, when added to 10 ml. of water produced a clear, sparkling low-viscosity alcoholic solution with a nonsweet strong alcohol taste.
• Paul-ish 12y ago
  As a note, that patent expired years ago. (Patents last at most 21 years). That IP is in the public domain now.