Dextrin

This low-molecular-weight carbohydrate is produced by the hydrolysis of starch or glycogen. Dextrin is actually produced on the surface of bread crust during the baking process, but is also used in numerous industrial and commercial applications. For example, yellow dextrins are used as a water soluble glue in remoistenable postage envelopes, in mining for froth flotation, as a printing thickener in the batik resist dyeing process, and as a binding agent in gouache paint, and even as an additive in the treatment of leather. Dextrin also enhances the crispness of food products such as batters, coatings, and glazes. It is also found in maltodextrin, which is a common food additive that is rapidly digested by the body as glucose. Finally, dextrins are also integral to the brewing beer and the mash used in the distillation of most whiskeys.