Sciencemadness Discussion Board

Drinkable hydrophobic liquid

Bboyhughes - 14-10-2015 at 09:24

Hi guys this might sound odd but I need a drinkable hydrophobic chemical I could potentially flavour

I'm designing a cocktail and I need a liquid the when I inject it into the bottom of the glass will be so hydrophobic it will sit at the bottom of the glass and push my drink up not like oil that will just rush to the surface when injected

Any ideas???

Detonationology - 14-10-2015 at 09:29

Undisturbed propylene glycol or vegetable glycerin might be what you are searching for.

[Edited on 10-14-2015 by Detonationology]

ave369 - 14-10-2015 at 09:29

All drinkable hydrophobic liquids (vegetable oils) are lighter than water.

Glycerin? Are you sure it's hydrophobic?

[Edited on 14-10-2015 by ave369]

Detonationology - 14-10-2015 at 09:37

Quote: Originally posted by ave369  
Glycerin? Are you sure it's hydrophobic?[Edited on 14-10-2015 by ave369]

Both are miscible in water; however glycerin is hygroscopic. Propylene glycol is nearly the same density as water (1.036g/cm^3) and vegetable glycerin is 1.261g/cm^3.

[Edited on 10-14-2015 by Detonationology]

[Edited on 10-14-2015 by Detonationology]

[Edited on 10-14-2015 by Detonationology]

UC235 - 14-10-2015 at 09:39

Quote: Originally posted by ave369  


Glycerin? Are you sure it's hydrophobic?


It's quite hydrophilic. But it's viscous and denser than water and it takes some vigorous stirring to get it to go into solution. That being said, glycerol would not be super pleasant to drink. It produces a warming sensation on the tongue and has a bit of a weird flavor.

Probably sugar syrup would be a better option. Especially if you're layering liquor on top of it, mixing will be slow.

Metacelsus - 14-10-2015 at 09:41

Criteria:
1: Liquid at room temperature
2: Denser than the drink
3: Won't appreciably dissolve
4: Nontoxic

I don't see any possibilities that meet all four, but there are some substances that meet three of them. (Glycerol meets 1,2, and 4). Perfluorodecalin comes close; it's quite inert (chemically and biologically), but I still wouldn't put it in a drink.



[Edited on 14-10-2015 by Cheddite Cheese]

Sulaiman - 14-10-2015 at 09:53

cooled honey, molasses, treacle ?
same as syrup really,
more bizzare, condensed milk, evaporated milk, tomato ketchup ....
all are miscible and will impart some flavour to your concoction
but if poured carefully should mix slowly,
and maybe one of them may complement your concoction?

possibly water at just above freezing temperature?
salts etc. in the water would make it even denser.

all guesses, need careful pouring and quick drinking...

[Edited on 14-10-2015 by Sulaiman]

BromicAcid - 14-10-2015 at 12:31

Perfluorodecalin (as you mentioned), perflubron, and FC-75. All three have been used in liquid breathing studies, perflubron really fits the bill since it was approved by the FDA. They are inert, non-toxic, practically insoluble in water (but may be soluble in your system to some extent), they are much denser than your drink (nearly 2 g/cm3) and they are liquids at room temperature.

[Edited on 10/14/2015 by BromicAcid]

j_sum1 - 14-10-2015 at 12:48

Quote: Originally posted by Cheddite Cheese  
Criteria:
1: Liquid at room temperature
2: Denser than the drink
3: Won't appreciably dissolve
4: Nontoxic

5. Tasty?

Bert - 14-10-2015 at 12:52

Pousse-café?

All you need is slightly different densities and a careful assembly-

http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/the-pousse-cafe...



image.jpg - 7kB

chornedsnorkack - 18-10-2015 at 10:07

How about lower "fats"?
The density of triacetin is 1,155. Triacetin does appreciably dissolve - to the amount of 60 g/l. Tributyrin has density of 1,032, and presumably lower solubility in water. And then the mixed esters are options...

unionised - 18-10-2015 at 10:56

Quote: Originally posted by BromicAcid  
Perfluorodecalin (as you mentioned), perflubron, and FC-75. All three have been used in liquid breathing studies, perflubron really fits the bill since it was approved by the FDA. They are inert, non-toxic, practically insoluble in water (but may be soluble in your system to some extent), they are much denser than your drink (nearly 2 g/cm3) and they are liquids at room temperature.

[Edited on 10/14/2015 by BromicAcid]

I rather suspect that it would act on the gut like liquid paraffin.