Division Definition

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 α-cyclodextrin may be carried out using one of the following procedures: precipitation of a complex of α-cyclodextrin with 1-decanol, dissolution in water at elevated temperature and re-precipitation, steam-stripping of the complexant, and crystallisation of α-cyclodextrin from the solution; or chromatography with ion-exchange or gel filtration followed by crystallisation of α-cyclodextrin from the purified mother liquor; or membrane separation methods such as ultra-filtration and reverse osmosis.