Alkali Wet-Milling Can Be Used to Manufacture Starch

Starch, a crucial raw material in food and non-food industries, is extracted from cereals, tubers, and root crops. Various extraction techniques, such as alkali, wet-milling, and enzymatic methods are used with different processing conditions and chemicals to obtain starch. Different methods influence starch composition and structure impacting its physicochemical and functional properties. Alkali-based wet-milling starch extraction involves steeping and physical shearing with sodium hydroxide to alter the structure and properties of starch. This process enhances solubility, degrades starch molecules, and improves starch-protein interactions.

Fig.1 SEM images of quinoa starch isolated by alkali (A1–C1), wet-milling (A2–C2), and enzymatic (A3–C3) methods at 500×, 1000×, and 10000× magnifications. (Junejo, et al., 2022)

The table below shows some native starch production processes using different alkali solutions. The concentration and specific formulation of the alkali solutions may vary based on factors such as the starch yield, starch purity, and desired functionality of the final starch product. It is essential to carefully control the alkali treatment process to achieve the desired starch characteristics and ensure the quality of the end product.

Table 1. Different types of starch manufacturing processes using different alkali solutions. (CD BioGlyco)

Alkali Wet-Milling for Starch Manufacture Service at CD BioGlyco

CD BioGlyco provides different kinds of Native Starch Manufacturing Services that offer several native starch products, and because of the plant source and the properties desired for the final starch product, CD BioGlyco offers various alkali solution treatments. The alkali process is crucial for breaking down the cell structure of the plant material, releasing starch granules, and facilitating the extraction and purification of starch. Besides Wet-Milling Processes, CD BioGlyco also provides Dry-Milling Processes and other Custom Processes for starch manufacture. For some special needs, we also provide Modified Starch Manufacture Services for clients.

Fig.2 The standard flowchart of alkali wet-milling. (CD BioGlyco)

• Cleaning: The raw plant material is thoroughly cleaned to remove dirt, impurities, and other foreign materials.
• Crushing or grinding: The cleaned plant material is crushed or ground to break it down into smaller particles, increasing the surface area for subsequent processing.
• Mixing with alkali solution: The crushed or ground plant material is mixed with an alkaline solution, commonly containing sodium hydroxide (NaOH) or potassium hydroxide (KOH).
• Soaking: The mixture of plant material and alkali solution is allowed to soak for a certain period, which varies depending on the plant source.
• Separation: After soaking, the mixture is separated to remove the liquid fraction, which contains soluble impurities and some soluble starch.
• Washing: The solid residue containing starch granules is thoroughly washed with water to remove the remaining alkali and soluble impurities.
• Separation and drying: The washed starch slurry is further separated from the water, and the wet starch is then dried to obtain the final starch product.
• Milling (Optional): Depending on the desired form of the starch product, additional milling or grinding steps may be performed.

Highlights of Alkali Wet-Milling

Alkali treatment processes are essential for starch manufacturing as they help in breaking down cell structures, releasing starch granules, and separating starch from other components. These processes contribute to the production of various starch products used in a wide range of industries, including food, pharmaceuticals, and paper manufacturing.

CD BioGlyco provides high-quality wet-milling processes for starch manufacturing based on our well-equipment lab. If you have any questions or require details information, please feel free to contact us.

• Conventional Wet-Milling for Starch Manufacture
• Alkaline-Protease Treatment for Starch Manufacture