Mineral entrained plastic formulations as puncturing elements

A method for dispensing a product into a liquid to form a solution, the method comprising the steps of:

• a. providing a package having a base and a sidewall extending therefrom defining an interior of the package, the package further having an opening leading to the interior and a cover sealing the opening when the package is in a sealed position to enclose a product stored therein, the package further comprising a puncture element disposed within the interior, the puncture element having a cutting edge or sharp facing the cover, wherein the puncture element, including the cutting edge or sharp, is composed of a desiccant entrained polymer comprising a monolithic material formed of at least a base polymer and a mineral desiccant, the mineral desiccant comprising at least 30% by weight of the monolithic material, the puncture element serving the dual purpose of being i) sufficiently rigid to puncture the cover and ii) configured to absorb or adsorb moisture;
• b. providing a receptacle below the package, the receptacle being filled with a liquid;
• c. applying pressure against the cover with the cutting edge or sharp until the cutting edge or sharp breaks through the cover so as to dispense the product from the package into the liquid;
• and
• d. combining the product with the liquid to form a solution;
• wherein the puncture element provides at least the following two functions:
• i. controlling moisture within the interior, when the package is in the sealed position so as to maintain desired qualities of the product;
• and
• ii. puncturing the cover to dispense the product, without the puncture element itself breaking when puncturing the cover.