Edible adhesives find packaging-related applications.

Sugar isn't used just for sweetening anymore. Now, it's also the main ingredient in edible adhesives developed by USDA-ARS scientists. ARS chemist Sevim Erhan and colleagues at the agency's National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research developed the sugar-based, edible adhesive technology at the request of a beverage packing company.

According to Erhan, who leads the center's Food and Industrial Oils Research Unit, the company needed a flavorless, food-grade adhesive that it could use for an assembly line operation that involves inserting drinking straws into beverage cans, cartons and bottles. Specifically, the company needed a strong, fast-curing adhesive that could bond the straws to a special holder that's lowered into the containers before they're filled and sealed.

At that point, the adhesive is supposed to dissolve in an even, controlled manner. Otherwise, the straws would remain fixed to the holders instead of rising freely out of the containers when consumers opened them.

Of the possible ingredients for the edible adhesive, Erhan and colleagues chose sugar because of its availability, familiarity to consumers and widespread use in beverages. Sugar alone isn't a strong adhesive. So, the researchers mixed it with water and various organic acids. They then boiled the mixture until the sugar and acids bonded, or cross-linked, forming a dark-yellow adhesive.

All told, the investigators experimented with 10 different sugars, including sucrose, lactose and maltose, and 12 organic acids, including citric acid, malic acid and tartaric acid. Tests show the resulting adhesives bond to wood, metal, cloth, leather, glass, plastic, paper and other materials. Exposed to liquids, the adhesives dissolve and lose their grip in 20 minutes to 60 minutes, depending on the sugar-acid combination used to make them.

USDA scientists have patented the sugar-based edible adhesives. Besides holding the straws, the adhesives have potential applications in binding food items, food and utensil packaging, and drug capsule layers.

Patent. 6,613,378--Sugar-based edible adhesives. Issued: Sept. 2, 2003. Inventors: Selim Erhan et al. Assigned to USDA. An edible adhesive is made by cross-linking a sugar with a polyfunctional acid. The adhesive is able to bind two articles together for a limited period of time, and then controllably release the adhesive bond between the articles when it comes into contact with a liquid, such as a beverage.

Further information. Sevim Erhan, USDA-ARS National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research, Room 2048,1815 N. University St., Peoria, IL 61604; phone: [phone]; fax: [phone]; email: [e-mail].