Starch Extraction
As a raw material for our process we use starch that is purely derived from plants.
Cyclodextrins & Complexes
Cyclodextrins are naturally occurring oligosaccharides. They can be produced by enzymatic degradation of plant starch. Cyclodextrins are characterized by their cyclic three-dimensional structure with a hydrophobic cavity. This cavity can trap lipophilic molecules as “guests” – provided they have the right size and shape. In this way, they can complex bioactive substances. The hydrophilic outer surface ensures compatibility with aqueous systems. This special structure of cyclodextrins opens up a wide range of applications.
Cyclodextrins consist of multiple glucose building blocks linked together in a ring. Depending on the size of the ring, a distinction is made between α-cyclodextrin with six, β-cyclodextrin with seven and γ-cyclodextrin with eight glucose units. WACKER is the only company in the world to produce all three naturally occurring cyclodextrins, marketing them under the trade names CAVAMAX® W6 (α-cyclodextrin), W7 (β-cyclodextrin) and W8 (γ-cyclodextrin).
The cyclodextrin derivatives produced by modifying these α-, β- and γ-cyclodextrins by hydroxypropylation or methylation are marketed by WACKER under the name CAVASOL®.
Thanks to their special properties, cyclodextrins, make a variety of applications possible. For example, cyclodextrins can be used for controlled release of bioactives, masking unwanted aromas, rheology control or for improving solubility and bioavailability. And that is only the start of the potential offered by cyclodextrins.
Cyclodextrins are Produced Enzymatically From Starch
Advantages of Cyclodextrins:
- Unique properties
- Versatile functionalities and applications
- Colorless white powders
- Odorless and tasteless
- Vegetarian (based on plant starch)
- Non-allergenic
- No E-numbers
Available Quality Classes and Variants:
- Food-safe (CAVAMAX® Food)
- Non-GMO
- Vegan
- Pharmaceutical (CAVAMAX® Pharma)
- Technical
- Various CAVAMAX® complexes
- Cyclodextrin derivatives (CAVASOL®)
Application Areas
- Food
- Food supplements
- Personal Care
- Pharmaceuticals
- Agrochemicals
- Paints and surface coatings
Enzyme Production & Purification
Via fermentation, microorganisms produce specific enzymes, which are then isolated and purified.
Biotransformation
The isolated enzyme helps to convert starch into cyclodextrins, ring-shaped glucose molecules.
Purification
The conversion product goes through several purification steps to remove the enzymes and to purify the cyclodextrins.
Cyclodextrins
With this method, we produce three different CAVAMAX® cyclodextrins, which are identical to the ones found in nature.
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