Are You Making this Mistake with Your ALKAA?

This falls under the category of the more you know...

tl;dr version:

Are you squeezing your sachet to savor every last drop of your drink?

Are you sucking on the sachet?

If this is you, and I can't over-emphasize this enough: STOP IT!! 

You are literally (and I do mean literally) squeezing all the bad stuff right back into your drink and rendering ALKAA useless.

For those of you that want to know why things happen, read on. We've tried to make it as fun to learn about as possible. 

Adsorption vs. Absorption in the World of ALKAA

 In our latest blog post, we delve into the misunderstood twins of the molecular world: adsorption and absorption.

While they may sound similar, their roles in the efficacy of ALKAA sachets are worlds apart. Through engaging comparisons, we will uncover the surface-level dance of adsorption — the process that our sachets use to trap toxins without ingesting them, akin to a meticulous bouncer at an exclusive party. Contrastingly, absorption is more like a sponge, soaking everything up indiscriminately. We don’t want that for our favorite tipple!

Let’s dive into the enigmatic world of molecules and mixers.

Picture this: you’re holding a glass filled with your cherished evening beverage at your favorite cozy little spot. The atmosphere is buzzing with the soft murmur of conversations and the clinking of glasses.

And you've come prepared with your ALKAA sachet, your trusty sidekick in this social symphony, designed to let you revel in these moments, minus the regret. What could go wrong?

Well, a little birdie told us some of you might be unwittingly undoing the work of your "teabag". Squeezing the sachet? Winding the string around the sachet? Sucking on the sachet? Uh oh. Let’s put those habits in reverse and explain why you should never squeeze or suck the sachets.

To illustrate our sachet’s process imagine a grand masquerade ball, each guest adorned with masks representing different toxins like acetaldehyde, histamines, sulfites, and others - the culprits behind your post-party woes. Enter ALKAA sachets, the vigilant gatekeepers, designed to selectively identify and remove these disguised troublemakers from the ball, ensuring the festivity remains splendid without the unwanted aftermath.

Through the intricate dance of adsorption, our sachet ingredients act as attentive hosts, discreetly escorting these masked toxins away from the drink, akin to removing uninvited guests from a soiree, ensuring a joyful morning awaits. This precise interaction leaves your beloved beverages cleaner, celebrating the essence of enjoyment without the regret.

But here’s where our tale twists: if you squeeze the sachet, you're essentially allowing all those unruly guests back into the party! We obviously don't want to allow that to happen. But what stops the toxins from seeping back into your beverage? How are they removed? The answer is more simple than you may think.

This is the delicate dance of adsorption: primarily a surface phenomenon, a ballet at the molecular level, where atoms and molecules are picked out from the crowd and then adhere to the surface of another substance, leaving the rest of the party untouched, untainted, and undeniably better. 

Never forget the twist in the tale: if you squeeze or wring out our heroic sachet, it’s a bit like inviting the rowdy neighbors back into the party after you’ve kindly escorted them out – defeating the purpose, isn’t it?

The Correct Way to Use ALKAA Sachets

Now, let's focus on the rhythm of the ALKAA sachet dance. Your sachet, dear reader, is the prima ballerina of this ballet, and the stage is your glass.

First, the entrance: the sachet, poised and graceful, is gently lowered into the sea of spirits… a serene descent, akin to a leaf falling onto a calm pond. This is where our ballet begins.

You will want to ensure your sachet isn’t floating along the top but completely submerged and thoroughly saturated. If necessary, use any utensil at your disposal to gently plunge your sachet deep into your drink.

The dance is simple: a stir, a swish, a gentle dunking, not unlike a seasoned conductor with his baton, guiding the music of the night.  

Swish and dunk several times over the performance that lasts a mere five minutes – a brief interlude in the grand scheme of your evening. Yet, this is when the magic, errr... science... happens. The sachet, in its silent grace, is ensnaring those unruly toxins without becoming one with the liquid.

But what of the grand finale, you ask? Ah, this is where the discipline of ballet shines through. There is no dramatic squeeze, no forceful wringing of our star performer. Instead, with the finesse of a seasoned maestro, you lift the sachet, allowing it a dignified exit, leaving behind a cleaner elixir.

When used correctly, the sachet’s ingredients capture and hold onto the undesirables on their surface, ensuring they leave when the dance is done. But, squeeze the sachet, and you undo the night's work, releasing the captured villains back into the soiree of your glass.

So, let the sachet dance its dance, and your evening will be all the better for it.

Thank you for reading along on today’s episode of Science Sachet Theater. We hope you have a greater understanding of how to best use your sachets and why you should never squeeze the Charmin, err.. sachets.

For you ultra-sciencey types, we see you... 

Comparing Adsorption vs Absorption

Usually, when people think about adsorption and absorption, they consider the mass transfer of liquid particles onto (adsorption) or into (absorption) solids. But, these processes can involve plasma, gases, liquids, or dissolved solids where the ions, atoms, or molecules are adsorbed or absorbed by liquids or solids.

While both sorption processes share this similarity, they differ in several ways:

Adsorption	Absorption
Accumulation of particles onto a substance surface	Accumulation of particles throughout another substance
Surface phenomenon	Bulk phenomenon
Exothermic process	Endothermic process
Favored by lowering temperature	Not affected by temperature
Rate steadily increases until it reaches equilibrium	Occurs at a uniform rate
Surface concentration differs from internal concentration	Concentration eventually becomes the same throughout the material

 

Adsorption Definition and Examples

Adsorption occurs when ions, atoms, or molecules adhere to a surface. The substance adsorbed onto the surface is called the adsorbate. The substance with the surface is called the adsorbent. Adsorption is an exothermic process because energy is released when the adsorbate sticks to the adsorbent. The rate of the process depends largely on surface area and temperature. Low temperature promotes adsorption because particles with less thermal energy have less kinetic energy and are more likely to stick to surfaces from covalent bond formation, hydrogen bonding, or other intermolecular forces.

Examples of adsorption include:

-Water adsorbing onto silica gel
-Contaminants adsorbing onto activated charcoal
-Particles adsorbing onto zeolites
-Silver adhering to glass and forming a mirror surface
-Non-stick coatings on pans
-Adsorption chillers used with refrigerants
-Viruses adsorb onto cells and surfaces

Uses of adsorption include water purification, cooling water for air conditioners, heterogeneous catalysts, surface treatments, and ion exchange columns.

Absorption Definition and Examples

Absorption occurs when ions, atoms, or molecules pass into a bulky material. These particles (the absorbate) diffuse or dissolve into the absorbent substance. A familiar example is a paper towel picking up water. Eventually, water evenly permeates the paper. Absorption occurs passively (diffusion) or actively (facilitated diffusion or active transport) and is an endothermic process. Absorption rate depends on several factors, include concentration, exposed surface area, and pressure.

Examples of absorption include:

-A paper towel absorbing water
-Hair absorbing water
-Oxygen from air dissolving into water
-Sodium hydroxide absorbing carbon dioxide from air
-Cells absorb water and nutrients from their surroundings

Uses of absorption include spill clean-up, hydration, and digestion.