DESCRIPTION

Alpha-Cyclodextrin occurs as a virtually odorless, white or almost white crystalline solid. It is a non-reducing cyclic saccharide consisting of six α-(1→4)-linked d-glucopyranosyl units produced by the action of cyclodextrin glucosyltransferase (CGTase, EC 2.4.1.19) on hydrolyzed starch. Recovery and purification of alpha-cyclodextrin may be carried out using one of the following procedures: precipitation of a complex of alpha-cyclodextrin with 1-decanol, dissolution in water at elevated temperature and re-precipitation, steam-stripping of the complexant, and crystallization of alpha-cyclodextrin from the solution; or chromatography with ion-exchange or gel filtration followed by crystallization of alpha-cyclodextrin from the purified mother liquor; or membrane separation methods such as ultra-filtration and reverse osmosis. It is freely soluble in water and very slightly soluble in ethanol.