Starch: A Veritable Natural Polymer for Economic Revolution

Abstract

Amidst growing concerns for environmental degradation by anthropologic activities and use of non-biodegradable materials for industrial and household purposes, a focus on natural polymeric materials offers the veritable prospects for future survival. Although some synthetic polymers are biodegradable, the process of production that is usually non-green adds to environmental pollution. Natural polymers are naturally occurring organic molecules such as cellulose, starch, glycoproteins and proteins. They are mostly obtained from plant sources, but are also produced in animal and microorganisms. One of the most abundant natural polymers of multidimensional and multifaceted application is starch. Starch is used across wide-range applications spanning engineering, food and beverages, textile, chemical, pharmaceuticals and health, etc. This is because it can readily be modified into products of desired physicochemical characteristics, thus making starch a potential tool for industrial and economic revolution. The global trade balance for starch and derived products is about $1.12 trillion, presenting a huge opportunity for more investment in starch production. Africa’s negative starch trade balance of about $1.27 trillion makes it a potential investment destination for starch production. This chapter discusses the use of starch in various industrial sectors, its potentials for sustainable economic development and as a veritable natural polymer for economic revolution.

High Performance Liquid Chromatography - Recent Advances and Applications

“…One could also cite a series of organically modified porous Zn imidazolate solids [101]. In the case of functions, flexible MOFs will not only modify the host and guest interactions, but will also drastically affect the flexibility of the MOF during the adsorption or delivery of the biomolecule [102,103] (Figure 10).…”

“…Because APCI produces a single charged product, the molecular mass spectrum of the product can be directly observed. In contrast to ESI mode, LC coupled to positive or negative ion mode APCI is more suitable for the analysis of weakly polar or nonpolar compounds due to the sample vaporization [102,103]. For identification of anthocyanins with the same molecular mass, either sample treatment such as acid hydrolysis must be performed to release the anthocyanidin aglycons or MS fragmentation data must be obtained.…”

“…The addition of fillers to spices is a common form of adulteration, which can lead to reduced quality, taste, and nutritional value of the spice [101]. One of the most common fillers used in spices is starch, which can be derived from various sources, such as corn, wheat, or rice [102]. Starch quantification is carried out by first extracting the sample with water or ethanol followed by filtration and subjection into the HPLC column.…”

Properties and Food Packaging Applications of Solvent Casting‐Made Starch‐Based Films Incorporated with Essential Oils: A Review

“…[7] Among the many types of biopolymers, starch is one of the most abundant natural biopolymers found in most primary foods in human diets, such as rice, cassava, maize, wheat, and potatoes. [8] Considering its low cost, degradability, edibility, and ease of chemical modification, many studies have focused on designing starch for film applications. [5] Many methods can be utilized to produce starch films, such as extrusion, injection molding, and solvent casting.…”