Overview of Starch
Starch is a polysaccharide carbohydrate consisting of a large number of glucose units joined by glycosidic bonds. Starch is produced by most green plants as an energy store and is the most common carbohydrate in human diets. Pure starch is a white, tasteless and odorless powder that is insoluble in cold water or alcohol.
Starch Structure and Composition
Starch is made up of two types of glucose chains - amylose and amylopectin. Amylose is essentially linear glucose units linked together by alpha-1,4 bonds. Amylopectin has alpha-1,4 linked glucose units with branches linked by alpha-1,6 bonds. This branching creates a large, highly branched structure. On average, starch is around 20–30% amylose and 70–80% amylopectin by weight depending on the plant source. How these individual chains are assembled determines the properties of the native starch granule which have crystalline domains that give the starch its stability.
Uses of Starch Derivatives
Starch are produced by chemically modifying native starch to alter its properties. Some key starch and their uses include:
- Hydrolyzed starch or maltodextrin - Starch Derivatives Used as a thickener and stabilizer in sauces, soups, gravies, and confectionery products due to its solubility.
- Starch esters - Used as emulsifiers and adhesives in paper, textiles, and construction materials. Common ester derivatives are acetate and phosphate esters.
- Etherified starch - Used as a binder and adhesive for paper coatings, textiles, pharmaceuticals, and construction materials. Common ethers are hydroxyethyl, hydroxypropyl, and carboxymethyl starch.
- Resistant starches - Resist digestion in the small intestine and behave like dietary fiber in the colon. Used as a fat substitute ingredient and to increase fiber.
- Starch graft copolymers - Used in applications such as soil stabilization, fire resistance, and absorbent materials. Grafting starch produces vinyl alcohol polymers and acrylonitrile polymers.
Production Methods for Starch Derivatives
Common starch derivative production routes include physical, enzymatic and chemical modification of native starch. Key production methods are:
- Acetylation - Native starch is reacted with acetic anhydride to introduce hydrophobic acetate ester groups. Used to produce starch acetate.
- Etherification - Starch chains are chemically treated with reagents such as propylene oxide or ethylene oxide to introduce hydroxyalkyl ether groups. Produces hydroxypropyl and hydroxyethyl starch.
- Oxidation - Starch reacting with hypochlorite/chlorite ions introduces aldehyde and carboxyl groups along the polymer chains. Produces starch aldehyde and oxidative starch.
- Cross-linking - Starch treated with cross-linking agents like phosphorus oxychloride modifies the structure and can be used for textile sizing. Increases viscosity and thermal stability.
- Hydrolysis - Boiling starch in dilute acids or enzymes cleaves glucosidic linkages to depolymerize the starch chains. Produces maltodextrins with varying dextrose equivalent values.
Applications and Market for Starch Derivatives
The global market for starch was estimated at over $39 billion USD in 2020 and is projected to grow steadily. Key end use industries adopting these eco-friendly materials include food, paper, pharmaceuticals, textiles and construction. Native starches find applications as thickeners and binders.
chemically and physically modified starches deliver enhanced properties in targeted applications from emulsification to water retention depending on the derivative type and substitution level achieved. Continued innovations in starch modification and green chemistry routes are likely to increase derivatives production and market growth going forward. New developments aim to overcome supply chain challenges and issues arising from geopolitics and climatic events impacting raw material availability.
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Money Singh is a seasoned content writer with over four years of experience in the market research sector. Her expertise spans various industries, including food and beverages, biotechnology, chemical and materials, defense and aerospace, consumer goods, etc. (https://www.linkedin.com/in/money-singh-590844163)
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